Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Friday inaugurated a new steel girder bridge over river Panior on Sagalee-Sakiang road under Mengio Circle in Papum Pare district in presence of former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and Itanagar MLA Techi Kaso.
Attending a public meeting during the inaugural function, Mein said: “Real development is achieved when we connect the interior places. The Government is committed for the development of all the interior areas of the State and it is in the priority of the government to give connectivity to the remote and interior places in order to bring all-round development. It is through such developmental works, we can arrest the migration of the people from the villages in interior areas to the towns and cities.”
He said that under PMGSY, rural roads worth Rs 2,000 crore will be constructed across the State which would further improve road connectivity in rural areas when completed. He also informed that the upgrade and maintenance of rural roads across the State will also be taken up by the Government.
While citing that many road projects are being implemented in the State, he said that the Frontier Highway in the pipeline would further connect the border villages. Mein also stated that the proposed Industrial Corridor along the foothills from Balukpong to Kanubari would accelerate the economic activities in the State.
Lauding local contractor Tarh Kena, proprietor Haniya Enterprise for completing the steel girder bridge on time despite natural disturbances and washing away of construction materials due to landslides and floods, Mein said that the Government would encourage more such committed local contractors to come up in the State.
Responding to a four-point memorandum submitted by former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, who is also the local MLA, Mein assured to take up the matter with the Ministry of DoNER for the proposed construction of road from Marung-Gika to Panior Bridge point via Sarch Gai, Mate, Kusu and Pan – 21 km in Papum Pare district under North East Special Infrastructure Development Schemes.
He also assured to look into the construction of a steel bridge over Panior River to connect Bong village, construction of slope stability structure to protect road formation near the new steel girder bridge and construction of a steel bridge over river Nyorpung to connect Paga village in the next financial year.
Tuki while submitting a memorandum to the DCM said that Mengio is one of the most interior administrative headquarters of Papum Pare district and such developmental works will bring economic benefit to the people of the remote areas.
He also called upon the people to co-operate with the Government in the smooth implementation of developmental works and to take up minor repair and maintenance works like filling up of potholes on self-help basis saying that we cannot depend on government for everything.
G. Padu, SE (PWD) of Sagalee, said that the 75-metre bridge was constructed under RIDF/NABARD with an estimated cost of Rs 6 crore. The bridge will shorten the distance between Itanagar and Mengio by more than 10 km and reduce the travelling time by more than an hour.
The DCM also laid the foundation stone of a Rs 19 crore PMGSY road from Sakiang to Nargang (18 km) which will connect seven villages when completed.
Earlier, Mein also inaugurated the Customer Service Point in the premises of EAC Office, Mengio and handed over the first passbook opened through the CSP on the occasion. This CSP will provide financial services like opening of new bank accounts and the facilities like online filling up of forms for PM Jandhan Yojana, PM Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, PM Jeevan Suraksha Yojana, Atal Pension Scheme and other G2C (Government to Citizen) services like ST, PRC, Income Certificate, Dependency Certificate, PAN Card, Passport, etc.
On the occasion, Commissioner (PWD) Bilatee Pertin, Chief Engineer PWD (WZ) K Waghe, DC Papum Pare Dr Joram Beda, SP Tumme Amo and Dominic Tadar, General Secretary State BJP were present among others.