STATE : Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has stressed developing connectivity among Northeastern states, including Tripura.
At the same time, he has stressed expediting the 4-lane work of the NH-8 from Churaibari to Agartala. Making this demand, a review meeting on National Highways held last evening at Hotel Radisson Blue, Guwahati Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said that the National Highway, the NH-8 from Churaibari to Agartala has already been declared a 4-lane highway, and work is going on for that on the stretch from Champaknagar to Khayerpur. He has stressed completing work on the rest of the stretch.
Apart from the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the meeting saw the attendance of the Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Gen. (retd) V. K. Singh, Managing Director of NHIDCL and representatives of different Northeastern States.
Thanking the Union minister for road transport and highways for sanctioning different NH projects for the development of connectivity in the region, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said that over the last nine years, the length of National Highways in the state has increased from 509 km to 914 km. For Tripura, Rs. 9034 crore has been sanctioned for 31 NH-related projects. Out of this, 16 projects have been implemented through NHIDCL and state PWD, spending Rs. 3977 crore and creating 383 km of road.
At present construction of 225 km road at the cost of Rs. 5057 crore is going on under 15 projects. Out of this, till December 31, 2023, eight projects are supposed to be completed. All these eight projects are being implemented through NHIDCL, CM Saha added.
In addition, for the development of road connectivity in Tripura, projects for 265 km road worth Rs 4607 crore are in process. Besides, the Chief Minister, Dr. Manik Saha, requested to notify four in-principle announced NH. These are – Champaknagar – Udaipur (NH-08) via Khumulwng and Jampuijala 40 km road, Kamalpur – Santirbazar 148 km road via Ambassa (NH-8), Gandatwisa-Amarpur (NH 208), Amarpur (NH-208)- Udaipur (NH-8) 24 km road, and Santirbazar to Belonia 17.25 km road. These roads will facilitate alternative connectivity for different districts, sub-divisions, blocks, markets, tourist places, and tribal areas. So, these are vital roads.
The chief minister also assured of the state’s all-out cooperation regarding land acquisition, diversion of forest, utilities, etc., while implementing these projects. Stressing on the quality of work, he said that Tripura is a hilly state, and its soil is soft. So, to facilitate the flow of rainwater drainage, cross-drainage will be required.
He requested to take extra care of these while preparing DPR. Lastly, he thanked all the agencies engaged in connectivity development projects in Tripura and requested to ensure the standard of quality in work.