Gadkari promises Arunachal to expedite 4-lane road project.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has assured Arunachal Pradesh to expedite the sanction process of Itanagar-Banderdewa four-lane road project for which the State government had made a representation to his Ministry earlier.

His assurance came when Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein called on him in New Delhi to apprise him of the problems and demands of the State, an official communiqué said recently.

Mr. Mein had requested Mr. Gadkari for early sanction of special repair estimate of Itanagar-Banderdewa Road which has been submitted to the Ministry, to which the Minister for Road Transport and Highways asked a senior officer to examine the case for early approval.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu had earlier submitted a memorandum to MoS for Road Transport & Highway Mansukh Mandaviya, during his visit to the State recently, demanding declaration of four roads as national highways.

He had named Akajan-Likhabali-Bame Road (106 km) in West Siang, Margherita-Changlang (37 km) in Changlang, Daporijo to Dollungmukh via Dumporijo along the left bank of the Subansiri river (125 km), and Tezu to Chapakhowa via Sunpura (20 km).

Mr. Gadkari informed Mr. Mein that the Centre was actively considering the proposal for declaring roads as national highways and it would be examined and considered.

Mr. Mein also apprised the Minister of the incessant monsoon rain that play havoc resulting in huge damage both on the completed stretch and ongoing NH projects every year.

“As such, regular maintenance and protection work is required so that damages due to landslides and other damages can be arrested to ensuring all-weather connectivity,” Mr. Mein pointed out.

THE HINDU