Rs 5,130-cr road projects for NE states: Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari on Friday announced Rs 5,130 crore worth road projects for Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, to improve their road network.

The new roads were important for the economic growth of the north east, he said, adding that the 102-km Jowai-Ratacherra road in Meghalaya would be built at an estimated cost of Rs 630 crore.

“The Centre has allocated Rs 5,130 crore for road projects for Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh,” the Union minister said.

The Jowai-Ratacherra road would be the lifeline for the eastern Meghalaya district of East Jaintia Hills, he said, adding “I assure you that we will start this project within three months.” 

The Central government, Gadkari said, had sanctioned three projects in Nagaland. 

The detailed project reports have been prepared and work on the them would start in three to four months.

The projects are the four-laning of 48-km Dimapur-Kohima road, the 35-km-long four lane Dimapur by-pass and the 17-km-long Kohima by-pass, he said.   Gadkari said the construction cost of 100-km road in Nagaland is estimated to be Rs 2,000 crore.