Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari will be on a two-day visit to Meghalaya on September 24 and 25.
An official communique issued here on Thursday evening said the Union Minister will do an extensive review of every national highways project in the North Eastern states with all stakeholders.
National Highways projects worth more than Rs 1.5 lakh Cr are currently underway in the seven North Eastern states, the communiqué said, adding that Gadkari would review the status of each project in the presence of the state chief ministers, PWD ministers, officials of Road Transport and Highways Ministry, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) and also contractors who execute the projects.
In addition to the review, Gadkari will also dedicate to the nation the 102 km Jowai-Ratacherra section of NH-6 in Meghalaya at an event at the State Convention Centre in Shillong on September 24.
Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma will preside over the function.
The NH project, constructed at Rs 683 crore, will reduce the travel time between Jowai and Ratacherra to 2.5 hours from the 4 hours at present.
The highways pass through the coal and cement producing belt and is a lifeline for the landlocked states of the North East.
The newly developed highway will have two toll plazas, 17 bus shelters, two highways patrol and two ambulances, besides two wayside amenities.
Improved connectivity will foster economic growth in the Barak Valley of Assam and surrounding areas, open up employment opportunities and improve overall living conditions in the region.
