Pema Khandu. File photo
Pema Khandu. File photo

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on his Republic Day message on Thursday said that his government has given top priority to all kind of connectivity  in the State.

Khandu said, “The State Government is giving top priority to the connectivity sector – road, air, rail and digital.”

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Claiming that over Rs 50,000 crore is being pumped in for improving the road network in the State, he said that rail connectivity in the State got a major boost this year.

While new railway lines from North Lakhimpur-Ziro and North Lakhimpur-Silapathar-Bame-Aalo has been approved, surveys of Margherita-Deomali-Lekhapani-Kharsang-Itakola-Seijosa has already been completed.

“Surveys in some major rail route like Bhalukpong-Tenga-Tawang, Pasighat-Tezu-Parashuram Kund-Rupai, Dumduma-Namsai-Wakro, Dangri-Roing, Deomali-Naharkatia, Kharsang-Miao-Nampong-Deban, Tinsukia-Pasighat via Kanubari are in various stages of progress,” said Khandu, adding, “Under air connectivity sector, operationalisation of ALGs at Pasighat, Ziro, Tezu, Mechuka and Tuting for civilian use is in full swing.”

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Small fixed wing aircrafts and helicopters will be operated under UDAN in select locations very soon, he added.

On the eve of the Republic Day, Khandu said, “On this momentous occasion, let us all pay our rich tribute to the valiant soldiers of our great Indian Army, para-military forces and State Police who sacrificed their lives for us so that we live in peace and feel secured.”

In his R-Day message to the people of Arunachal Pradesh, he also lauded that his government has taken many important decisions and brought in a number of administrative reforms, a firm step to take Arunachal Pradesh at par with other developed States.

Under the continued support and guidance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “we are committed to deliver the fruits of development to each and every citizen of Arunachal, especially to the last man in the queue with full dedication and conviction,” he said.

Urging to the people of the Himalayan state, Khandu said that his government will not tolerate corruption in any form and will not think twice to take stern action against anyone found involved in corrupt practices.

He lamented that recently he handed over the infamous multi-crore Public Distribution System (PDS) scam to the CBI for an independent investigation.

“We have also cancelled illegal regularisation and recruitments done in various departments and ordered for SIC investigation into the anomalies,” he added.

Keeping social sectors like health and education on top agenda of his government, he said, “We have started smart class room project stretched to 700 schools across the State. Our government has also created sufficient posts of subject teachers to fill the critical gap while we have also done away with the no detention policy which has been hampering the quality of education.”

“Under health sector, we started CM’s Free Chemotherapy scheme for cancer patients. The first academic session of Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Science with initial capacity of 50 students will start this year. All modalities have been completed to prelaunch the restructured health assurance scheme this year,” he further stated.

The Arunachal CM further said, “Our government has initiated a number of steps to tap the rich potentials in agri-horti and allied sectors under ‘Mission Organic Arunachal’. A tourism roadmap with focus on high-end tourism has being prepared while hydropower is being harnessed with people’s consent, factoring in its environmental effects.”