Pranab for expansion of highways in east, northeast

Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today batted for the expansion of the national highway network in eastern India, for the development of trade between major countries in the region.

Laying the foundation stone for the four-laning project of NH-34’s 256-km stretch between Berhampore and Dalkhola, both in Bengal, he said, “Nathula Pass is going to be the strategic point of trade between India and China, and also to other countries like Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. As these countries are contributing a majority share of world trade output, the development of roads in eastern India assumes significance. It is in sync with our Look East policy.”

He added that the expansion of these roads was vital for the implementation of the South Asian Free Trade Area agreement.

Land acquisition issue
On land acquisition for the widening of NH 34, Pranab said, “Around 300-plus hectares of land will be acquired for the first phase of this project. Heavy compensation will be given to land losers, along with work during the construction period. A proper relief and rehabilitation policy is also being framed, but it will take some time to be implemented.”

The project, developed by HCC Infrastructure, is part of the National Highway Authority of India’s expansion plan of the 443-km NH-34. NHAI chairman Brijeshwar Singh said, “Acquisition of more than 80 per cent of the land needed for the project is over. We have also paid 25-30 per cent of compensation to land losers. NHAI is also planning to give additional compensation to the people whose livelihood was affected.”

He said bidding for the second phase of NH-34 widening, from Kolkata to Berhampore, will happen within the next two months. NH-34 runs from Kolkata to Dalkhola in north Bengal, where it meets NH-31, which connects to Siliguri and beyond.