ITANAGAR, Jul 3:    Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein presided over a meeting on one of the most important proposed road project of the State, East-West Industrial Corridor (Phase - I & II) at Civil Secretariat today. The proposed road shall traverse along the foothills within Arunachal Pradesh from Pasighat in East Siang District to Bhairabkund in West Kameng District (in Phase-I) and from Kanubari in Changlang District to Manmao via Tirap Gate in Tirap District (in Phase-II).

  Mein informed that the proposed East-West Industrial Corridor is a part of the announcement made by the Union Minister of Road, Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari during his visit on January last year to construct roads in Arunachal Pradesh worth Rs 50,000 crore.

However, the Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways has made it clear that the proposed project would be sanctioned only when the land is provided free of cost without any encumbrance, he said and added that “this road will be constructed only when the people of the State agree to donate land free of cost without claiming for compensation”.  He urged the local legislators and the Deputy Commissioners of the districts (who were present in the meeting) through which the road will traverse to create mass awareness in this matter and to convince the people to part some of their land for this very important road project free of cost.

He said “we have to give away the mindset of compensation, if we want development to takes place”.            

 He further said, “the East-West Industrial Corridor will be declared as the State Highway” and asked the M/s Nector Engineers & Project Consultants, Ahmedabad to submit the proposed Road Alignment and the Techno Feasibility report for examination by a High Power Committee headed by the Speaker of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, TN Thongdok as Chairman and Chief Secretary, Satya Gopal as a member among others. He said that the committee will further submit their findings and recommendations to the Govt for final approval.

  Speaker, Thongdok emphasized on early finalization of the alignment and completion of survey and investigation.  

Chief Secretary, Satya Gopal citing the project a very important and a historic one asked the Highway Department to adhere to a strict timeline.

   Chief Engineer(Highway), T Basar while highlighting the importance of the project informed that the proposed East-West Industrial Corridor has been conceived along the foothill areas of the State as it is one of the richest regions in terms of potential for agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and other cash crops cultivation. This region of the State has the potential for establishing manufacturing industries such as fruit processing, packaging and establishment of Industrial Units due to the proximity with neighbouring Assam, where huge market potential exist and will improve the market linkages. He also informed that this road once complete will also reduce the travel time between some parts of eastern Arunachal and western Arunachal to the State Capital, Itanagar by 2-3 hours as it will pass through within the State without touching Assam.

               He also informed that the State Govt had already provided Rs 18 crore for the survey & investigation for Package-I from Pasighat to Naharlagun during the last financial year and also provided Rs 22 Crore during the current financial year for survey & investigation of Package-II from Naharlagun to Bhairabkhun which also includes 10% State Share for DPR preparation of Frontier Highway.

  He further informed that the survey & investigation for the Package-I has been completed and for Package-II is in progress.  

  Representatives of M/s Nector Engineers & Project Consultants, Ahmedabad had presented the proposed alignment, details of land acquisition, forest clearance requires and design which were discussed in details in the meeting.

   Parliamentary Secretaries & MLAs Techi Kaso, Kaling Moyong, Tatung Jamoh, Kumsiw Sidisow, Kento Rina, B Waghe, Tamar Murtem, Kardo Nyigyor also actively participated in the meeting and agreed to do away with the compensation for road.

Among others, IGP Sunil Garg, Incharge PCCF, Deputy Commissioners, Chief Engineer, Design & Planning(PWD), Atop Lego, DFOs and Engineers of Highways were also present in the meeting.

 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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