The Union Government on Thursday categorically asked the north-eastern states to expedite the process of land acquisition for construction of highways across the region.
The Central Government while expressing serious concern over the delay sought pro-active intervention from the government officials to take up the matter on urgent basis.
According to official reports, projects of road construction worth around a whopping Rs 6, 000 crore are pending in the state of Mizoram alone due to delays in acquisition of land for the purpose.
The Narendra Modi government, it is learnt, has asked the Lal Thanhawla government to take all necessary steps to speed up the process of land acquisition for the projects.
These projects funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have been categorized in eight packages to undertake highway projects worth about Rs 1.45 lakh crore for infrastructural development of the north-eastern region. The projects, if timely started are expected to be completed within a period of two to three years.
According to reports, the state-wise division is: Rs 48, 000 crore for Assam, Rs 22, 000 crore for Manipur, Rs 20, 000 crore for Nagaland, Rs 10,000 crore for Arunachal Pradesh and Rs 8, 000 crore each in Meghalaya and Tripura, Rs 17, 000 crore in Sikkim and Rs 12, 000 crore in Mizoram for the construction of roads.
A total of 197 road development projects are being implemented under various programmes and schemes of the Road Transport and Highways Ministry in the region.
Notably, apart from constructing new highways, the Centre has also commenced numerous road maintenance projects under Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for the North-east.
