NEC secretary Ram Muivah. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 22
Sharing issues of concern on road sector, North Eastern Council (NEC) secretary Ram Muivah said the progress of the SARDP-NE Phase A was very slow, adding that even the EW corridor is not yet completed.
Even the Jorabat Barapani 4 lane work is not completed.
The initial works for Phase-B is yet to be commenced. The progress of other works like Jowai Ratacherra section is very slow and the DPR for Shillong west bye pass is yet to be completed.
He said the Asian Highway No.I that starts at Moreh and passes through Imphal, Kohima, Dimapur, Doboka, Nagoan, Jorabat, Shillong to Dawki before connecting Dhaka in Bangladesh. The stretch of road from Dimapur to Doboka and between Kohima and Moreh road needs to be upgraded to four lane standard.
He said the road stretch from Moreh to Silchar is being developed as a double lane road. The entire stretch of the road within Manipur and Assam should be developed as container enabled one so as to get the benefit of Act East Policy.
Muivah said Avangkhu-Layshi road in Nagaland bordering Myamar is an important one in view of the LCS at Avangkhu. Although the road within India side is an existing single road, this needs to be upgraded to double lane for the entire stretch.
He said more than 1000 semi permanent bridges in the north east region totaling around 32 kms which are not on the NH need to be converted to permanent RCC bridges.
He also said that transportation of fuel/gas by pipelines to avoid the disturbance need to be taken up as per the vision 2020 of Hydrocarbons in NER immediately at least upto the state capitals.
On major achievements of NEC since inception, under roads and bridges, almost 160 number of roads completed with a total length of over 10,500 kms.
Other achievement includes; bridge over Brahmaputra at Tezpur with financial support from NEC, bridge over River Barak at Raniferry on the Silchar Kailan road, NEC funded construction of ISBT/ISTT’s at Guwahati, Silchar, Jorhat in Assam, Kohima, Mokokchung, Dimapur in Nagaland, Aizwal in Mizoram and Agartala, Chandrapur and Jirania in Tripura, replacement of 77 numbers of bridges in all states taken up in 10th plan, over 50 number of roads are under construction etc.etc.
Under improved air connectivity, with NEC’s financial support, Alliance Air flights in the NER increased from 78 to 144 and seats increased from 3274 to 6048.
On railways, Muivah said only three out of eight state capitals- Agartala, Guwahati and Itanagar are connected by broad gauge link.
“Hopefully, Imphal will be connected by 2018 and Aizwal and Kohima (Zubza) by 2019,” he said.
He said the railways have a plan of more than Rs. 63, 045. 19 crore for the next five years for the region, out of which expenditure till date is about 50% only.
“With their capacity of spending about Rs. 5500 crore per year, it may take another seven years to complete the ongoing schemes in the region. Rail connectivity to Imphal is important for freight traffic to and from South East Asia through Moreh,” he said.
On Airports, he said while development of airport is being taken up, the pace is hindered by lack of dedicated funding by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
He said a plan of Rs. 6000 crores for development of airports in the NE region has been lying with the AAI, but the funding is yet uncertain even after the launch of RCS by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
“The meager funds available with the AAI and the NEC will not be enough to cater to the required development needs. The proposed three Green Field Airports at Ruzuphema and Itanagar need to be taken up expeditiously while completion of Pakyong should be expedited without much delay,” he said.
He also stated that there are two international airports in the region. However, it was a matter of concern that there is only one commercial Druk Air Plight operation between Paro, Guwahati and Bangkok twice a week.
“Flight to other SE countries should be started at the earliest,” Muivah felt.
He said the recently introduced scheme for increasing connectivity with the setting up of the regional connectivity fund by the Ministry of Civil Aviation was a welcome step, and should be supported by the states.
“Helicopter and small ten to fifteen seater aircraft flights will need to be developed under the new scheme of regional connectivity and upgradation of more helipads will have to be taken up along with construction of small airstrips to support flights,” he said.
