Centre assures upgradation of NE roadways

Agartala, Dec 2: The Centre has assured the Northeastern states for upgradation of all the 28 NHs of 6,880-km long in region on priority basis and asked the implementing agencies to connect all the state capitals under a special programme.

Official sources said here today that the NE state capitals were proposed to be connected by 4-lane roads and all the district headquarters were proposed to be linked by atleast 2-lane roads under National Highways Development Programme III (NHDP-III).

The Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North Eastern Region (SARDP-NE) covers improvement and upgradation of 9,788 km roads of various categories.

Besides, construction of 4-lane standards, 678 km length from Silchar to Srirampur, the border of Assam and West Bengal under East-West corridor project and SARDP-NE Phase comprising 2,304 km roads has been approved, officials stated.

Meanwhile, about 678-km portion of East-West corridor under the NHDP-II is targeted to be completed by 2010 and NHDP-III covering widening to 4-lane of 1,051 km NH and Phase of SARDP-NE wouls be completed by 2013, they added.

UNI