Arunachal Pradesh to get roads and bridges worth Rs 819 crore

NEW DELHI: The rural development ministry has approved a network of roads and bridges to improve connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh, a decision that comes just ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Beijing and underscores the strategic importance of the bordering state over parts of which China lays claim.

The pre-empowered committee of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the Centre's rural roads programme, has cleared construction of 57 roads and 58 long-span bridges covering 842 km. Of these, 21 roads and 46 bridges are in areas along the India-China border. The projects will cost Rs 819 crore and connect 170 habitations in the state. State agencies and National Building Construction Corporation, a central public sector company, will construct these roads and bridges.

Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh's push for strengthening connectivity in international border areas has led to speedy clearances since January for construction of 95 roads and 31 long-span bridges in the state, covering a length of 1,190 km at a cost of Rs 894 crore. The government has approved construction of roads connecting 126 clusters of habitations, each of which have population of less than 250.

The ministry has also cleared construction of the entire stretch of the 157 km Miao-Vijoynagar road that leads to the India-Myanmar border. While the Miao-Mazagaon section had already been cleared, the committee, in its meeting on Saturday, cleared the remaining 97-km stretch between Mazgaon and Vijoynagar that comprises 22 bridges.

Welcoming the state's decision to involve the NBCC, Ramesh said this would help expedite the projects. "I must once again point out clearances are not the issue - pace of execution and timely completion of roads up to quality standards is the main concern," Ramesh said in a letter to Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.