Union minister Nitin Gadkari has promised Arunachal Pradesh to expedite the sanction process of Itanagar-Banderdewa four-lane Road project for which the state government had made a representation to his ministry earlier.
His assurance came when Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein called on him in New Delhi to apprise him of problems and demands of the state, an official communiqué said here on Thursday. Mein had requested Gadkari for early sanction of special repair estimate of Itanagar-Banderdewa Road which has been submitted to the ministry, to which the Minister for Road Transport and Highways asked a senior officer to examine the case for early approval.
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Chief Minister Pema Khandu had earlier submitted a memorandum to MoS for Road Transport & Highway Mansukh Mandaviya, during his visit to the state recently, demanding the declaration of four roads as National Highways.
He had named Akajan-Likhabali-Bame Road (106 km) in West Siang, Margherita-Changlang (37 km) in Changlang, Daporijo to Dollungmukh via Dumporijo along the left bank of Subansiri river (125 km), and Tezu to Chapakhowa via Sunpura (20 km).
Gadkari informed Mein the Centre was actively considering the proposal for declaring roads as National Highways and it would be examined and considered. Mein also apprised the Minister of the incessant monsoon rains that play havoc resulting in huge damage both on the completed stretch and on-going NH projects every year. “As such, regular maintenance and protection work is required so that damages due to landslides and other damages can be arrested to ensuring all-weather connectivity,” Mein pointed out.
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The Deputy Chief Minister also requested the Union minister to allocate a maintenance fund of Rs 10 crore for the maintenance and repairs works of National Highway 13- Potin to Ziro road as a special case.