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DIMAPUR — Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio called on Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, in New Delhi on Friday to discuss ongoing National Highway projects in the state.
Rio took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate Gadkari on his third consecutive term as Union Minister, wishing him a successful tenure.
Called on Shri @nitin_gadkari ji and discussed on-going National Highway projects in the State. I congratulate him on his assignment as the Union Minister of @MORTHIndia for the third consecutive term. I wish him a successful tenure. pic.twitter.com/M2IXWTMpTR
— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) July 26, 2024
Gadkari also updated the meeting on X, stating that their discussion centred around the progress of various National Highway projects currently underway in Nagaland.
📍 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑫𝒆𝒍𝒉𝒊
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) July 26, 2024
Chief Minister of Nagaland Shri @Neiphiu_Rio Ji called on to discuss the progress of ongoing National Highway projects in the state of Nagaland in Delhi today. pic.twitter.com/nmZyO9kJOI
It may be mentioned that the Union Minister had highlighted the significant investment made in the Northeast region's road infrastructure, during the Lok Sabha budget session.
Over the past decade, 9,984 km of National Highways were constructed at a cost of INR 1,07,504 crore. Currently, 265 NH projects are under implementation, representing an investment of INR 1,18,894 crore and covering a total length of 5,055 km, he said.
He added that 10 per cent of the total budget is earmarked for the region with special attention to the development of national Highways.
He outlined several key initiatives, including the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for the Northeast (SARDP-NE), which aims at upgrading the existing National Highways. Under SARDP-NE (including the Arunachal Package), a total of 5,468 km of roads have been sanctioned at a cost of INR 63,542 crore. Of these, 3,699 km have already been completed with an expenditure of INR 38,160 crore, he said.
Gadkari also told the Lok Sabha that under Bharatmala Pariyojna, a total of 2,767 km of roads have been sanctioned in the Northeast, with a projected cost of INR 64,319 crore. Currently, 272 km have been completed at a cost of INR 5,462 crore.
He also provided an update on the Trans-Arunachal Highway, stretching 1,077 km from Tawang to Kanubari. This crucial project, sanctioned at a cost of INR 11,643 crore, has completed 815 km with an expenditure of INR 8,708 crore.
Gadkari further highlighted the Frontier Highway project in Arunachal Pradesh, aimed at enhancing connectivity to strategically important border areas and promoting socio-economic development.
A total of 41 projects, covering 1,498 km, have been sanctioned at a cost of INR 29,562 crore. Funding for this project comes from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Ministry of Defence, and the Central Road & Infrastructure Fund, he said.