Tuki seeks early approval for Trans-Arunachal Highway

Itanagar, Jun 25 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh PWD and Urban Development Minister Nabam Tuki has urged the Centre to initiate immediate steps for early approval of the Trans-Arunachal Highway (TAH) and release of funds for restoration of NH 52A from Banderdewa to Gohpur in Assam.

Official sources said here today that the minister, who raised the matter at a conference of ministers in charge of Highways convened in New Delhi yesterday pertaining to roads and highways, received assurance from Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T R Baalu for according sanction to all projects soon.

Mr Tuki told the conference that the 1,702 km TAH from Tawang to Kanubari, which involves double lane road construction in tough topographical terrain, was a symbolic project for the people of the state.

He informed that the notification of three different national highways - NH 229, NH 52 B and extension of NH 37 - besides four lane of NH 52 A and double lane connectivity of the district headquarters and double lane roads to hydro-power projects, would facilitate connectivity at high altitudes.

The minister added that the state government was fully prepared to shoulder the responsibility for implementation of the highway projects and informed that the PWD had recently been restructured with a dedicated wing for execution of the highways.

Mr Tuki also demanded formulation of plan for national highway development, Central Road Fund works and referring to the damages caused by recent flash floods to the NH 52A, he urged the Ministry to consider release of Rs five crore immediately.

He further informed that the state government had already decided to create a separate highway zone headed by a chief engineer, two superintendent engineers and six executive engineers for executing the national highways, sources added.

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