AGARTALA, December 23 (TIWN): To ensure smooth progress of the ongoing project works under Tripura Rural Road Development Agency Tripura govt. has written to Union Minister of Rural Development Chowdhury Birendra Singh for the release of Rs. 500crore, said PWD Minister Badal Chowdhury today at civil secretariat. Talking to the media persons here at the secretariat Tripura Rural Development Minister Badal Chowdhury said that recently the state PWD department has written to the Union Minister of Rural Development Chowdhury Birendra Singh for releasing Rs. 500 crore to the Tripura Rural Road Development Agency (TRRDA) for ensuring a smooth progress of the ongoing project works under TRRDA.Minister Badal Chowdhury said that at the beginning of the financial year the TRRDA has firmed up an action plan for completition of total 601.65 Km of roads under new connectivity and 60% up gradation during the financial year.

 He also said that the state govt. had also communicated with MoRD and National Rural Road Development Agency (NRRDA) for their records.

Adding to that Minister Badal Chowdhury today said that the TRRDA has already intimated that they are running with negative balance and they have already exhausted the security deposit deducted from the contractor’s bills for making payment towards execution of works. On this issue Mr. Chowdhury said that if MoRD does not provide Rs. 500 crore during the financial year 2014-15 the TRRDA would face huge contractual problem and litigation.

However, it is mentionable here that the Union Ministry of Rural Development has already approved the DPRs of total 1422.44 Km of roads in Phase – XI during 2013-14 under new connectivity and 60% up gradation of Prime Minister Gram Sarak Yojna (PMGSY) for total amount of Rs. 1104.85 crore. And all together a total of 1787.688 Km roads are in progress at different stages here in Tripura.