Mizoram highway widening work to begin soon: CM

28 Oct 2024 CW Team

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma announced that the long-delayed highway widening project in the state is set to begin soon, with compensation issues expected to be resolved shortly as funds from the central government are awaited.

The Centre has allocated Rs 11.9 billion for compensating both the state forest department and landowners affected by the project, which involves expanding sections of NH-6 and NH-306. These highways serve as crucial lifelines, connecting Mizoram to the rest of the country through Assam.

Although the highway widening project, approved several years ago, aims to upgrade the roads to four lanes, implementation has been delayed due to disputes over land ownership and compensation. On his return to Aizawl after a visit to Delhi, Lalduhoma told reporters that he had participated in review meetings led by Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to address the challenges hindering the project.

The chief minister explained that forest clearance and land disputes have been primary obstacles. The state forest department claims some sections of land along the highway as reserve forest areas, while locals assert legal ownership based on tax payments and valid documents.

"We requested the Union Minister to compensate both parties to resolve the long-standing issues and expedite the project," Lalduhoma said.

Gadkari has agreed to allocate Rs 900 million to the forest department and Rs 11 billion to landowners to facilitate the project, marking the first time such an arrangement has been made.

Last month, over 2,000 landowners along NH-6 and NH-306 staged protests, demanding resolution of ownership disputes and fair compensation. With the Centre's approval, the project is now poised to move forward after years of delay. (ET)

Infrastructure Energy

25 Jun 2026

Centre Prioritising Energy Security With Coal Gasification

Union minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy said the Centre is prioritising energy security through a strategic shift to coal gasification and has announced incentives totalling Rs 460 billion (bn) to support the effort. He said more than 35 companies will start coal gasification activities in India within two months and that the government is encouraging firms that bring technology to close the domestic technology gap. The minister described the initiative as aimed at reducing import dependence and developing indigenous capacity. India has the fifth-largest coal reserve in the world, and..

BHEL and Coal India Invest Rs 250 bn in Odisha Gasification

Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) and Coal India (CIL) are jointly investing Rs 250 billion in a coal gasification project in Odisha, with the Prime Minister laying the foundation stone in Jharsuguda. Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy described the initiative as a transformative shift in coal utilisation that will open industrial avenues for the state. The project moves coal beyond conventional power generation to industrial feedstocks. Coal gasification will convert coal into synthesis gas, a versatile feedstock for chemicals, fertilisers and synthetic fuels, and the technology is ex..

BCCL Hands Over Dugdha Coal Washery To JSW Steel

Bharat Coking Coal has handed over the Dugdha Coal Washery to JSW Steel, marking the first coal washery asset monetisation under the Ministry of Coal's asset monetisation programme. The handover took place in the presence of senior officials from Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, JSW Steel and JSW Energy. The washery has a capacity of two million tonnes per annum (mn t per annum), and its transfer is intended to introduce private sector practices into coal beneficiation operations. The monetisation is aimed at modernising coal sector assets, improving operational efficiency and enhancing resource utilis..