Centre sanctions Rs 117 Crore for tunnel on NH 44

Agartala, Nov 29 (UNI) The Centre has approved the proposal of constructing a concrete cut and cover tunnel on NH 44 near Sonapur on Assam-Meghalaya border as an alternative to surface communication in Tripura, Mizoram and South Assam.

Officials here today said that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had submitted the proposal to Union Road Transport and Highways ministry in 1999 following massive landslides at Sonapur during monsoon.

Transportation and communication gets disrupted in the region following frequent and massive landslides, officials informed.

Officials said the ministry had sanctioned Rs 117 crore for the construction of 120 metres long, eight metres wide and five metres high cushion on the roof of the tunnel for preventing seepage of water besides, landslides on NH 44.

They further added that a diversion road by the side of the highway, equipped with cross drainage works, would also be built temporarily for smooth flow of traffic during construction work.

UNI