Communication to Northeast in Centre's top priority: Oscar

The Centre has attached maximum priority to communication sector in the north eastern region, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Oscar Fernandes said today.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the central government has attached maximum priority to development in North-East. He specifically said connectivity like roads, railways and air should be improved," he said.
He was talking to reporters here after laying the foundation for widening and double-laning of National Highway-44 from Udaipur in Gomati district to Sabroom in South Tripura district. Rs 627 crore was sanctioned for the project.
The works for maintenance and widening of the NH-44 would be handed over to the state government from Border Roads Organisation (BRO) as the state government demanded it on the plea that the highway considered to be the life line of the state, is not properly maintained, he said.

Fernandes said another road - Sabroom to Kukital - would be declared as a National Highway in Tripura.
"The state government had long been demanding for declaring it as a national highway and the Chief Minister of Tripura also met the Prime Minister and me and pressed for it. It would be declared as National Highway in the next phase," he added.