Gadkari reviews NE road projects, says infra development priority of Centre

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 1,90,000 crore for road projects spanning over 14,000 km in the northeast, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday and iterated that infrastructure development in the region has always been a priority of the NDA government at the Centre.

Gadkari, who arrived in Shillong on Monday on a two-day visit, reviewed all national highway projects in the eight northeastern states.

"Our government accords highest priority to infrastructure development in the northeast. We seek cooperation of state governments for land acquisition, forest clearances and encroachment solutions," the Union minister for road transport and highways told reporters here.

A total of Rs 1,66,026 crore has been sanctioned for construction of over 10,000 km of roads in eight states under National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited. Additionally, Rs 7,000 crore has been approved for 850-km stretch under National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), he said.

"The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also sanctioned Rs 17,257 crore for respective Public Works Department for the construction of 2,421 km of roads in the states," Gadkari explained.

The Union minister clarified that the NHAI would withdraw its services from the northeast once the pending projects are over.

"Currently, the NHAI has been entrusted with the job of 850-km-long road in the region for Rs 7,000 crore. In Assam alone, the NHAI has four projects, spanning 96 km," he said, adding, "In Meghalaya, the NHAI is scheduled to complete 62-km-long road project for Rs 536 crore by October."