Poor Road Connectivity Hits Security Operations in N-E

New Delhi, Aug 9 (UNI) Following complaints from the security forces about poor road connectivity hampering access to hinterlands in the North Eastern Region, the Centre has asked the NE states to identify important strategic roads, it is reliably learnt.

The eight NE states have also been directed to identify roads in backward areas cut- off from the rest of the state and which have not been covered by any road development projects.

The leter in this regard -- penned by the Home Ministry to the respective state Governments -- went out last week, official sources here said.

Though the letter does not quite explain the reasons, security forces involved in Counter-Insurgency operations have moved the North Block complaining about the lack of adequate infrastructure facilities like roads -- which have acted as a hurdle in their movement.

''The State Governments have been asked to identify such roads of strategic importance, as well as those in the backward areas not covered under any existing road development schemes,'' the sources said.

''There are critical gaps in road infrastructure connecting strategic points... this is creating quite some problems for our security forces,'' the sources added.

After receipt of the list of such roads, the Home Ministry will take up the matter with the Department concerned, the sources said.

Central authorities had recently examined some of the strategic roads and discovered that they cried for development. These roads were critical for smooth movement of the security forces, admitted officials concerned.

Anti-militancy operations are on full swing in Assam and Manipur -- while in Tripura they are on a low key. Recently the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) -- at the initiative of the Home and Defence Ministries -- cleared a mega road project in Arunachal Pradesh adjoining the Chinese border in what is seen as a weak response to China's big-ticket road and rail projects connecting Tibet with Beijing.

Sources said once the responses from the NE states had been received, the Central Deartments concerned would be prevailed upon to expeditiously sanction construction of the earmarked roads.

Indications were that funds would not be a problem. Construction of most of the strategic roads in the North-east was being carried out by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

Besides, other organisations like the National Highway Development Corporation were also involved in construction of roads.

The funds were being made available from the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for the North East (SARDP-NE) of the Road Transport and Highways Ministry, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources.

''Roads not covered under any of these schemes would be taken up for funding by the Central Ministry concerned,'' the sources observed stressing the need for synergy in socio-economic uplift and strategic consideration for development of basic infrastructure.

The country's North-Eastern Region has 28 National Highways of about 6,880 Km length. Though the density of National Highways in the Region was higher than the all-India average, road connectivity remains inadequate due to under-development of roads of lower category.

Delays in acquisition of land in some of the states -- mainly due to procedural formalities, difficulties in obtaining environmental and forest clearances, lack of professional road contractors and equipments -- have been cited by the Road Transport Ministry as the main hurdle in construction of roads in the region.

UNI