Mail News Service
\nNew Delhi, Aug 3 : Oscar Fernandes, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, reviewed the progress of projects in the North East region yesterday, in the presence of Paban Singh Ghatowar, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) (DONER), Sarvey Sathyanarayana, Union Minister of State (Road Transport & Highways), the Chief Ministers \/ PWD Ministers and other Ministers of the States in the region. The review intended to appreciate the concerns of the State Governments in the Region, prioritize the important issues, find out way forward to address the same and also for giving impetus to momentum of implementation of projects. The Union Minister intends to embark upon visits in each of the States in the Region and take a holistic view on the demands raised by them.
\nVarious decisions taken by the Ministry were also announced during the meeting. These include carrying out feasibility study for the important newly declared NH-127 B connecting Srirampur to Phulbari via Dhubri including construction of a bridge over river Brahmaputra, invitation of Request for Qualification (RFQ) for widening NH-37 between Numaligarh \u2013 Jorhat \u2013 Demow \u2013 Dibrugarh to 4-lane standards on BOT (Annuity) basis, to provide 4-lane connectivity to Itanagar from Nagaon via Holongi, to carry out feasibility study for construction of Imphal bypass, to conduct a feasibility study for an alternative \/ additional highway between Chumukedima near Dimapur in Nagaland and Maram in Manipur on NH-39 to avoid sinking zones in Nagaland and Manipur on NH-39 so as to tackle perennial problem of frequent traffic disruptions, to extend the Maram \u2013 Peren road taken up under SARDP-NE Phase \u201cA\u201d to connect with Dimapur via Ghaspani to provide alternative connectivity to Manipur and also develop about 65 km of road in Nagaland, to conduct feasibility study for by-passing the trouble spot rock-fall area on NH-44A between Aizawl and Lengpui Airport in Mizoram which is envisaged at providing an alternate all weather road connectivity for the airport besides shortening the length of NH-44A by nearly 5 km, decision taken for developing 130 km stretch of Agartala \u2013 Sabroom section of NH-44 to 2-lane standards on EPC basis to be implemented by the Ministry directly (which would provide connectivity to Chittagong port through Bangladesh and is envisaged to eventually improve trade and commerce with Bangladesh), decision to take up long pending construction of new bridge at Dawki in Meghalaya, decision to construct an alternative highway to Gangtok, via Bagrakot \u2013 Nimbong \u2013 Lolegaon \u2013 Algarah \u2013 Rhenok \u2013 Pakyong \u2013 Ranipul \u2013 Gangtok with spur from Rehnok \u2013 Aritar \u2013 Rolep \u2013 Menla. It was informed that the Ministry has technically vetted the proposal of Ministry of DONER for construction of new bridge across river Barak to connect Silchar town as an alternative to existing Sadarghat Bridge. Further, recently the Ministry issued sanctions for Jowai bypass as also revised estimate for Shillong \u2013 Nongstoin \u2013 Tura road under SARDP-NE in the State of Meghalaya.<\/p>\n\n