AGARTALA, July 1 (TIWN): Union Minister for Roads Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had announced two National Highway connections of Tripura with the neighbouring state Assam under the ambitious programme of the Modi Government, Bharatmala. The Tripura Left front government has been demanding for the road connecting Kukital to Sabroom via Kailasahar and Teliamura, Amarpur and another Khowai-Agartala corridor. However on recently arriving here at the state Gadkari giving a green signal to the two national highways hoped that the road connection between Assam and Tripura would improve infrastructure of the state and help to boost the economy and also would provide job opportunities to the youths of the state. Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday laid the foundation of double-laning of National Highway 44 in a 48.36-km stretch between Agartala and Udaipur at Amtali in Agartala. The double-laning road has come up under the SARDP-NH Phase ‘A’ with a total cost of the project is Rs. 368 crore. However the project is expected to be completed by 30 months from its start. However, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari meeting with Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had said, “The Central Government is eyeing forward to extend its helping had towards the development of the transportation of the North eastern States.”

Adding to that Gadkari also said, “Tripura would get all necessary supports from the central government to develop the communication systems of the state.” Gadkari also announced that the stretch of NH-44 from Manu to Simlung has been identified under the JICA funding and consultant is being engaged for DPR preparation by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). 

Besides, the 30 Km stretch NH 108A from Jolaibari to Indo-Bangla border via Belonia has been included in the annual plan of 2015-16 for DPR preparation by PWD, said Gadkari. Adding to that Gadkari also announced that 2 laning with paved shoulders in 104 Km length for DPR preparation, 50 Km length for construction and 24 Km for paved shoulders between Churaibari to Agartala section of NH-44 are included in the annual plan 2015-16.

However, Ministry is prompting local contracting industry by way of small packages in future contracts. Besides, Ministry would also fund the construction cost of state’s roads provided state government hand over the land free from encumbrance at its own costs.

Earlier in Guwahati, the union minister told a conference that the central government wanted to increase the capacity of local contractors, engineers and other stakeholders for their participation in building of highways and infrastructure in the north eastern region. It is to be mentioned here that Ministry’s effort is on building capacity of stakeholders to participate in road development work and towards this NHIDCL organised conference at Guwahati on June 30 and July 1.

The involvement of local stakeholders in construction of highways and infrastructure would result in new employment avenues, Gadkari said.

He instructed the National Highway Development Corporation Ltd to complete the double-laning work of Agartala-Udaipur and Udaipur-Sabroom (73.71 km) NH within two years.

The project cost has been estimated at Rs 1,600 crore for NH's expansion. Pedestrian strips and the drains would be build on both sides of the road connecting southernmost part of Tripura, which also connected with Chittagong sea port through a bridge over the River Feni, Gadkari said.

Admitting that the road connectivity here in Tripura has turned worst, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Tuesday claimed, “There is an urgent need to develop the road connectivity between the Tripura and the neighbouring Bangladesh in order to bring a boon for the North eastern states.”

He also drew Gadkari’s attention to the poor and unsatisfactory telecom services in the region and demanded latest equipment and technology and alternate telecom routing to Tripura through Bangladesh. Sarkar said, “If the the two giant river of the state – Howrah and the Gomati river can be connected with the neighbouring country Bangladesh than it would some way or other bring a boon for the people of the state.”