Agartala, Nov 11: In a major boost for Tripura, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday announced seven new projects worth Rs. 10,222 crore.
The projects include Road Infrastructure, Ropeways and some Bridges, the Union Minister said in a press conference in Guwahati followed by a review meeting on National Highway projects of Tripura, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.
Four laning of Churaibari to Agartala NH-08 (171 km, Rs. 3,233 crore), Western and Eastern Arms of Agartala Bypass (35 km, Rs. 3,161 crore), Khowai- Teliamura- Amarpur- Harina NH-208 (Rs. 2,421 crore), four laning of Udaipur- Srimantpur road (34 km, Rs. 480 crore) and cement concrete Roads in Urban areas (Rs. 200 crore) are among the new road infrastructure projects.
The central government also sanctioned four ropeway projects for Maharani to Chabimura, Udaipur Railway Station to Tripura Sundari Temple, Jampui Hills and Surma Cherra in Kamalpur worth Rs. 692 crore and three Railway overhead bridges of Rs. 35 crore.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who attended the review meeting and placed several proposals, hailed the sanction of the new projects and extended his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.
The Chief Minister in a social media post mentioned that his proposal for conversion of Churaibari to Agartala National Highway into a four-lane road was accepted by the Union Minister within five minutes. He called it the New India of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The sanctioned cost for conversion of Udaipur- Srimantapur Road (35 km) into double lane is Rs. 479 crore, the Union Minister wrote in a tweet.
“It would improve road connectivity of Agartala to Comilla Border post of Bangladesh via Udaipur & Sonamura and ensure better connectivity of Agartala with Chittagong Port,” Gadkari tweeted.
According to official sources, the Union Minister passed an instruction to the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to expedite the on-going works for the 280-km National Highway in Tripura.
Meanwhile, the Tripura government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for construction of four ropeways.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh along with Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Gen V.K. Singh among others joined the review meeting. Senior transport officers from both the centre and the concerned states were also present.