Arunachal road project approved: Rijiju

Itanagar, Sept 21 (PTI) Union Minister Kiren Rijiju todaysaid the road project from Tawang to Vijaynagar in ArunachalPradesh has been approved by the Infrastructure EmpoweredCommittee, headed by Cabinet Secretary, and forwarded to theUnion Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) forpreparation of the detailed project report (DPR). "After the DPR is ready, we will know the exact estimateof the project and will be sending it to the Cabinet for finalapproval," the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs toldreporters on the sideline of a function here. The ambitious road project close to the McMohan Line isstill in the conceptual stage and yet to get approval from theCabinet, Rijiju said, adding that the Defence ministry hadalso cleared the project after changing alignment of the roadin two portions. "The project was conceived by the Home Ministry to benefitthe people living in the border areas. When a major project isconceived, it has to be discussed in all the ministries beforegoing to the Cabinet for final approval for implementation,"he said while clarifying media reports. "I have submitted the project proposal and officials fromArunachal Pradesh including the Chief Secretary and PlanningSecretary convened a meeting at Delhi under my chairmanshipalong with Army Chief, Defence Secretary, Secretary BorderManagement of the Home Ministry including senior officials ofthe MoRTH, all intelligence chiefs where we have decided thatthe road should be constructed," he said. "We have sent the proposal to the defence ministry fornecessary approval. The ministry after re-aligning the road intwo portions namely Mago to West Kameng and Tuting-Singa-Anini," he said. Rijiju said the ministry had proposed to use the existingtrans-Arunachal Highway from Tawang to Dirang instead of Magoto West Kameng. From Dirang, the road would pass throughThongri, East Kameng, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, UpperSubansiri, West Siang, Upper Siang, Anini, Anjaw and finallyVijaynagar. For the other portion from Tuting to Anini via Singa, theministry had stated that it would be time taking for which itwas decided that from Tuting the road would go throughYingkiong and Pasighat to connect Anini, Rijiju added. Responding to a question regarding the greenfield airportproject in the state capital, Rijiju said a team from civilaviation ministry is scheduled to visit the state capital tosolve all the issues including land acquisition for which ameeting had been convened at New Delhi recently. "Land acquisition is a state government subject and I hopethat the government will expedite the process soon," he said. On civilian use of advanced landing grounds (ALGs), Rijijusaid that he had discussed the issue with Airport Authority ofIndia and as per the agreement executed with the defenceministry, there should be provision of civil terminals in allthe ALGs in the state. "Where there is available land, civil terminal will beconstructed in the ALGs," he added. PTI UPL CRSMJ