Sarbananda Sonowal For Early Completion of NH Projects, Moves Nitin Gadkari

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday held a meeting with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and urged him for ensuring expeditious start of the construction work of the road-cum-bridge project involving Sivasagar-Desangmukh-Tekeliphuta-Dhakuakhana- North Lakhimpur- Majuli and Jorhat under the ‘Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North Eastern States’.

The meeting, held at New Delhi, had an elaborate discussion on the status of highways in Assam under NHAI and NHIDCL and stressed on linking the North Bank and the South Bank of the Brahmaputra keeping Majuli — which is an epicenter of Xatra culture. Sonowal observed that construction of a road network involving a bridge connecting Majuli will enable expeditious development of the river island along with development of the areas located in the North and South banks of the Brahmaputra. Union Minister Gadkari informed in the meeting that preliminary work involving the construction has been completed and very soon construction work of the project would start, stated a PIB release.

PWD Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma drew the attention of the Union Minister for expeditious completion of four-lane works and proper maintenance of the existing stretches of the National Highways. Chief Minister Sonowal also stated that due to slow paced construction of several stretches of National Highways, people are facing problems. He, therefore, requested the Union Minister’s intervention for expeditious completion of the National Highways from Nagaon Bypass to Kalibor (NH 37), Numaligarh to Dibrugarh (NH 37), Digboi to Ledo (NH 38), Jamuguri to Gohpur (NH 52), Nirim Banglow to Harangjao (NH 54 E).

Sarbananda Sonowal also requested Union Minister Gadkari for the early construction of four-lane work from Balachera to Harangajao of NH 54 E under NHAI and proper maintenance of the existing stretch. Citing the level of inconvenience being faced by the travelers due to poor conditions of the existing NHs, Sonowal also sought Union Minister’s help for the proper maintenance of existing stretch of National Highways from Srirampur to Gossaigaon along with construction of four-lanning of the stretch. Sonowal also said that early completion of the construction of Kalijhar-Patasarkuchi stretch along with the maintenance of the existing stretch would help the local people besides facilitating smooth movement of traffic to the area from outside the state.

Sarbananda Sonowal also raised the issue of indifferent attitude on the part of some contractors which according to him attributed to the sluggish progress of the construction work, and requested the Union Minister to take corrective steps. Moreover, Sonowal also requested Gadkari to ensure NHIDCL Chairman to come to Assam and carry out spot inspection to plug all loopholes. He also stressed on area specific coordination between NHIDCL and district level authorities and NHAI and district administration to address all shortcomings and ensure expeditious implementation of the schemes for the benefits of the people at large.

Union Minister of State for Food Processing Rameswar Teli, Secretary and other senior officers of the Ministry of National Highways, MD and other senior officers of NHIDCL, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Lohiya, Commissioner-Secretary PWD (NH) Raj Chakraborty and several senior officers were present at the meeting.

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