Centre sanctions Rs 1,600 bn to improve N-E infrastructure

The Centre has announced new sanctioned projects worth Rs 1,600 billion to improve the northeast's infrastructure and security. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced the state-by-state distribution and sanction of funds among the eight states. While Arunachal Pradesh received the most funding (Rs 440 billion), Assam received Rs 380 billion, Meghalaya Rs 125 billion, Manipur Rs 154.99 billion, Mizoram Rs 66.64 billion, Sikkim Rs 20 billion, Tripura Rs 124.26 billion, and Nagaland Rs 32.35 billion. Roads in Arunachal Pradesh will now connect the state to others through improved and new networks. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will two-lane a 1,465-km stretch of the Frontier Highway at a cost of Rs 273.49 billion. In Assam, the proposed Northern Guwahati Ring Road is 55 km long and includes a bridge over the Brahmaputra River. It will cost Rs 36.26 billion. An additional Rs 5.5 billion has been approved for the six-laning of the 8.5-km Khanapara-Jorbat road. The four-lane Gohpur-Numaligarh twin tube tunnel or bridge project has been funded in the amount of Rs 128.07 billion, while a 20-km four-lane road connecting Assam and Mizoram has been granted Rs 12.06 billion. See also: Nitin Gadkari lays foundation stone for 4 NH projects in West BengalGanga Expressway makes headway in clearing and grubbing work