East-West Corridor in Assam likely by December 2014

So far 431 km of the corridor in Nagaon-Daboka-Lanka-Udali section has completed, while another 63 km length is likely to be ready by June this year, he told reporters here.

Work at Jalukbari junction near Gauhati University is likely to be completed by November this year and the Brahmaputra bridge near it by December next year, he said.

The project since its beginning in 2005 had encountered imponderables like law and order, adverse weather conditions affecting working hours and transportation of raw material.

Joshi reviewed with Assam and Arunachal Pradesh chief chief ministers, transport ministers and officials the progress made so far to identify problems encountered in implementation of the project.

The meeting deliberated on wide-ranging issues, including tackling delay in pre-construction activities such as land acquisition, shifting of utilities and forest and environment clearance impeding the progress of the major schemes in the north east region.

The union transport ministry, he said, has also taken up the ambitious Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for development of road network in the NE states.

The programme envisages providing a total 10,141 km road connectivity to backward and remote areas, places of strategic importance and neighbouring countries, Joshi added.