Road network for development of North Eastern Region.

As per the information available, major development initiatives undertaken in the North Eastern Region inter alia include Comprehensive Telecom Development Project (CTDP) for North Eastern Region (NER), Comprehensive Scheme for Strengthening of Transmission and Distribution Systems (CSST&DS), North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP), Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East (SARDP-NE), Bharatmala Pariyojana (BMP), Projects under Swadesh Darshan Scheme for Integrated Development of Tourist Circuits and PRASAD Scheme for tourism infrastructure, National Sports University at Imphal, Greenfield airports and upgradation of airport infrastructure at various airports including Guwahati, Imphal and Agartala, Agartala-Akhaura Rail-Link to connect the existing Agartala station in Tripura to Akhaura Station of Bangladesh Railways, restructuring of National Bamboo Mission, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for NER, North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS), development of Brahmaputra and 19 new waterways including Barak with 100% subsidy under Central Sector Scheme for development of IWT infrastructure in North Eastern States etc.

In addition to above, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region has also taken up projects for filling gaps in infrastructure through its schemes such as NLCPR-State, North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS), Schemes of North Eastern Council (NEC) and North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS).

For improvement of connectivity and road infrastructure in the North Eastern Region, under Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East (SARDP-NE) a length of  6418 km have been approved and about 5273 km road has been sanctioned for execution at an estimated cost of Rs.57,518 crore. Out of total length of 5723 km sanctioned, a length of 3029 km (as on 31.3.2019) has been completed against total expenditure of Rs.30,315 crore.  Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), a length of 23093.39 km of rural roads has been constructed in North Eastern States in last five years with an expenditure of Rs.10731.99 crore. In order to expedite road construction, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has set up a company named ‘National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd’ (NHIDCL) for construction/upgradation/widening of National Highways in the Region.

           Besides this, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region has also taken up road infrastructure gap filling projects under NLCPR-State (624 nos. of road and bridge projects for Rs.6474.00 crore with approximate road length of 8400 km), under NERSDS (13 projects having total length of 329.72 km of road worth Rs.1120.41 crore), under schemes of NEC (180 projects having a total length of 11000 km of road worth Rs.6580.00 crore).

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

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