East-West Corridor between Silchar and Porbundar in Gujrat caught in logjam

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: Atal Bihari Vajpayee's dream project 3300 km long East-West Corridor between Silchar and Porbundar in Gujrat even 22 years of laying its foundation by Jaswant Singh, then Minister of Highways, is still stuck up at the 31.5 km stretch of Balacherra to Harangajao in Cachar and Dima Hasao districts. This stretch runs through the proposed Borail Hills Wild Life Sanctuary and unless the clearance is given by the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment on the recommendation of the State Forest Ministry the NHAI cannot take up work to complete the super highway in Assam. BJP blamed Congress repeatedly for not giving the clearance. So, the deadlock has to continue.

But, with the change of guards at Dispur and the installation of Sarbananda Sonowal, the NOC for construction on the 31.5 km stretch was issued by the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment. The Ministry of Highways under Nitin Gadkari committed to monitor the work closely. BJP's package of assurances to get passage for the party to be at the citadel of power at Dispur included timely completion of the East West stuck up stretch Corridor. There is hardly any progress. Dr Rajdeep Roy who took mediapersons with NHAI officials to the stalled stretch assured the progress of work would be monitored on monthly basis. The other day Dimasa Students' Union leaders from Haflong visited to see the stretch and expressed surprise what stands in the way of starting the work.

NHAI here has been directed not to talk to the media or any inquisitive journalist on the Corridor, one official on condition of anonymity said. BJP did not lose time to blame Congress. People believed it who now question what prevents BJP led Government to complete the stretch. There lies the mystery. Pro Active Senior Citizens' Forum is taking up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of Highways, Nitin Gadkari.

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