Road projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore in north-east by 2019: Gadkari

The Centre would initiate road projects in the north-east with an estimated expenditure of Rs 2 lakh crore by 2019, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on Wednesday.

Gadkari said that while projects with expenditure of Rs 1.5 lakh crore would be carried out through the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL), state Public Works Departments (PWDs) will handle projects amounting to Rs 50,000 crore.

"In five years, we will accomplish more than what was accomplished in the last 50 years," he said.

"In the north-east, our target is to start projects of at least Rs 1.5 lakh crore through NHIDCL by 2019 and another Rs 50,000 crore through the state PWDs," Gadkari told reporters here while announcing Cabinet approval for the upgradation of a 65-km National Highway-39 stretch in Manipur.

He said projects of Rs 50,000 crore were already started by the NHIDCL.

"After independence, it is the first time the government has taken special interest in setting up road and rail networks in the north-east and has made it a priority," he said adding that the upgradation of National Highway-39 from Imphal to Moreh near the Myanmar border was a part of that initiative.

"This road will increase connectivity to the districts of Imphal East, Thoubal, Kaching, Chandel, and Tengnoupal while also boosting international connectivity. It will give new direction to the development of the north-east," he said.

--IANS

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