AGARTALA, July 4 (TIWN): Alignment for double laning in the National Highway 44 in Udaipur-Sabroom route is complete, Engineer-in-Chief of the state Public Works Department Sunil Bhowmik said here today.

Speaking in the sidelines of an interaction at the civil secretariat here,  the  official said that the work of relocatinf all electric posts, drinking water pipelines etc was complete. Acquisition of land was complete in most areas of the state. A small patch of land that trespassed through the Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary is still waiting for official clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, he said.
Asked about the latests status of possibilities of getting the approval,  Bhowmik said that the Department initiated talks with the concerned ministry. "We are hopeful", he said.
Tender was floated for the double laning work four months back. Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt. Ltd was awarded the work after opening of tender. 
The source said that a total project cost of Rs. 197.89 crore was sanctioned for double laning work of Agartala-Udaipur and Udaipur-Sabroom segment of the National Highway 44.
Oriental Structural Engineers Private Limited is reported to be a construction company with expertise in construction of rigid and flexible pavements for roads and air fields, including bridges and earthworks.
Union Minister for Surface Transport and National Highways Oscar Fernandez laid foundation stone for double laning of the National Highway 44 in Udaipur-Sabroom segment of South Tripura district in November last year. The segment of 73 Km length is estimated to be developed to double lane with paved shoulder with a fund of Rs. 627 crore. Most parts of the National Highway 44 in the segment is currently 7-8 mt wide while the new project would alleviate it to a standard of 12 mt width.
Tender for double laning of NH 44 in Agartala-Udaipur segment was notified recently. The tender period was recently extended by another month. Further progress in the project would be started in the second phase soon.
The state PWD authority would be acquiring land area of at least 290 mt width to accommodate paved shoulder and drains etc, the source stated.
Asked about scopes of compensation to be given to all who would be affected by the widening process, a separate source in the Department stated that Rs. 494 crores would be allowed under compensation head.
The National Highway 44 is currently in intermediate status in most areas of the state barring a 83 km patch in the Agartala-Churaibari segment.