NATIONAL : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the Improvement and widening of two lanes with paved shoulder of road from km 101.300 (Khowai) to km 236.213 (Harina) of NH-208, covering a total length of 134.913 km in the State of Tripura.
In a Government release, it said that the project involves an investment of Rs.2,486.78 crore which includes a loan component of Rs.1,511.70 crore (JPY 23,129 Million). The loan assistance will be from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the Official Development Assistance (ODA) scheme.
The project is envisaged to facilitate better road connectivity between various parts of Tripura and to provide alternative access to Assam and Meghalaya from Tripura apart from the existing NH-8, it said.
The release also said that the project has been selected based on the necessity of providing a smooth and motorable road after considering the socio-economic needs of the region. Development of the project stretch of NH-208 would not only improve Interstate connectivity between Assam and Tripura via NH-208A but also reduce the transit time and provide safer connectivity for travelers. The project stretch also passes very close to the Bangladesh border and it would improve connectivity to Bangladesh through Kailashahar, Kamalpur, and Khowai Border Check Post. The land border trade would also potentially grow with the improvement in the Road Network in the region through the development of the project road.
The selected stretch provides improved connectivity to the agricultural belt, tourist places, religious places, and tribal districts of the state, which are backward in terms of growth and income. After completion of the project, the connectivity will be improved which help to generate more revenue for the State as well as income for the local public.
The construction period for the project stretches will be 2 years which includes the maintenance of these National Highways stretches for 5 years (in the case of flexible pavement)/ 10 years (in the case of rigid pavement) after completion of construction.