197 road projects being implemented in the northeast

A total of 197 road development projects are being implemented in the northeastern states under various programmes, parliament was told on Thursday.

According to the data, 37 projects are being implemented in Arunachal Pradesh, 68 in Assam, 21 in Manipur, 22 in Meghalaya, 17 in Mizoram, 10 in Nagaland , 19 in Sikkim and 3 in Tripura.

"The total length and the total sanctioned cost of these projects are 4,320.95 kms and Rs.3 7, 691.05 crore respectively," said Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister Jitendra Singh told the Rajya Sabha in an written reply.

"DoNER is coordinating various activities including connectivity projects of the line ministries. Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council also provide support for bridging of infrastructural gaps," he said.

Singh, noting railway projects are not sanctioned state-wise, also said that 20 major railway projects consisting of 13 new lines, two gauge conversions and five doublings, having aggregate length of 2,624 km at a cost of Rs. 52,030 crore have been taken up in the region.

"An expenditure of Rs 21,336 crore has been incurred on these projects upto March 2016. An outlay of Rs 5,040 crore has been provided for 2016-17 for these projects and for the residual liabilities of some completed projects," he said.

He said comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for North-Eastern Region at a cost of Rs 5,336.18 crore is under implementation.

--IANS

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