Smaller packages for greater benefits

Staff Correspondent

Shillong, May 2: The Union Government had to termite 44 road projects in the Northeast due to the problems of land acquisition and forest and environmental clearance, disclosed the Union Minister Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.

Gadkari made a plea to the state governments in the region to play a more pro-active role to facilitate the Central government to improve connectivity and development in the region.

“There are a lot of problems in the Northeast. When I took over, there were 270 projects stuck up because of land acquisition and forest and environmental clearance,” stated the Union Minister, even as he informed that 44 of such projects had to be termited through the golden hand shake policy. The amount cost is more than Rs 90,000 crore, claimed Gadkari even as he said that there are 26 other projects for the region that are encountering similar problems.

Gadkari further hoped that the existing hurdles will be removed after his meeting with the Prime Minister in the coming days.

Stating that the delay in executing the project leads to cost escalation, the Union Minister said, “it is not good for the country and the region which has been accorded high priority by the Centre”.  

Informing about the establishment of tiol Highway Road Development Corporation with Guwhati as its headquarter, Gadkari also said that priority in road building sector in the Northeast would be accorded to locals.

“The idea is to provide employment to local youths,” stated Gadkari while pointing that local contractors were uble to match with the fincial capabilities of contractors from outside.

Gadkari said locals would be awarded with small contracts, including building of bridges so that they could enhance their capabilities.

“We shall award them with 10 per cent advance for mobility and 10 per cent for machinery,” he announced, adding that his ministry would soon hold a two-day workshop to train contractors of the region in the nuances of building roads.