Itanagar: In a big push to boost infrastructure and strengthen border security in Arunachal Pradesh, the Centre has approved three major road projects, including the much-anticipated two-lane Frontier Highway, worth around Rs 44,000 crore for the frontier state.
This was announced by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari during a press conference soon after holding a series of review meetings on national highway (NH) projects of Arunachal Pradesh and other North Eastern states at Guwahati on Friday.
The projects include two-lane Frontier Highway (1465 km) with an estimated cost of Rs 27,349 crore, two-lane inter-connectivity corridor of 1,048 km worth Rs 15,720 crore and two-lane Brahmakund (Parshuram Kund) to Chowkham road (61 km) worth Rs 915 crore.
The total road length of these upcoming projects will be 2574 km. The detailed project reports (DPRs) of these projects are under progress, official sources said.
The 2-lane Frontier Highway, to be built by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), will pass through the districts of East Kameng, West Kameng, Upper Subansiri, Upper Siang, Dibang Valley, Lohit, Anjaw and Changlang. Once completed, it would help safeguard the country’s borders with China and Myanmar, and control migration from border areas, besides improving tourism infrastructure.
MoRTH will also execute the 2-laning of Inter-connectivity corridors which will pass through districts of Pakke Kessang, East Kameng, Longding, Changlang, Upper Siang, Upper Subansiri, Tawang, East and West Siang, thereby bridging the gaps between NH-52 in Assam, Trans Arunachal and Frontier Highway.
Besides being a strategic road for defence purpose, the proposed 2-laning of Brahmakund-Chowkham road, to be executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), will improve connectivity with tourist places like Parshuram Kund and Lohit valley.
Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu extended gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for approving the projects worth Rs 44000 crore for Arunachal.
He said this will provide a robust network of roads in the State which will usher unprecedented economic prosperity.
At the sidelines of the review meeting, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Arunachal Pradesh and NHML to develop four ropeways in the State.
“A big jump towards ensuring ease of connectivity through quality mobility solutions! An MoU was inked between Arunachal Pradesh and NHML in the presence of Hon’ble Minister @MORTHIndia Shri @nitin_gadkari ji to develop ropeways in the state,” Khandu tweeted.
