AGARTALA, September 11 (TIWN): Double lane construction work is going in full swing, confirmed officials. Land demarcation and identification survey for double laning of Udaipur-Sabroom segment in the National Highway 44 is completed and acquisition work would be started as soon as work order is placed. Tender was floated for the double laning work some three months back with the Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt. Ltd was awarded the work.

It is to be mentioned here that National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) officials said  the proposed project work of Agartala-Sabroom and Agartala-Udaipur national highway double lane work is going in full swing. Two companies named as Oriental Structural Engineering and KRC Company has been assigned to take over the work for double lane, said the officials.

The official of the state PWD department had said earlier that some of the offices of the state govt. and houses of the public would be evicted during the project work. “The Ministry has sanctioned Rs.17 crore for water supply pipeline under the DWS department, while Rs. 69 crore has been sanctioned for shifting of electric posts and for land acquisition Rs. 400 crore has been sanctioned,” said the official. 

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on June 30, laid the foundation stone for double-lane construction work of Agartala – Sabroom National Highway in presence of State Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari declared that the road connecting Sabroom with Kukital and Teliamura to Sabroom via Amarpur would be brought under the National Highway project.The Agartala-Sabroom road would be double lane having width of 10-meter excluding pavement. The 73 km Udaipur-Sabroom road will require Rs. 450 crore while 48-km Agartala-Udaipur road will need Rs. 462 crore to get double lane. According to the official, the Centre has already sanctioned fund to face lift the Agartala-Sabroom via Udaipur road which has tagged with NH-44. The BJP Government at the center has brought a very good policy in converting some of the major roads here in the state into National Highway.