Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 21
The Nagaland Government will continue to take steps for the early construction of the Foothills Road (Trans- Nagaland Highway), a 320-kilometre (km) stretch of road, which will shorten the travel distance within the state, Governor La Ganesan said on Tuesday.
The completion of the road would enable people, especially from the eastern districts to travel across the State without crossing inter-state boundaries and connect economically important towns, as well as boosting economic activities in a-3,000 sq. km mineral rich region of Nagaland, he maintained.
The Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for Phase I and II of the proposed Road project had been submitted to the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, he added, addressing the member of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on March 21.
Ganesan further maintained that the PWD (National Highways) is committed to take every step under the guidance and assistance from the Government of India to improve the road infrastructure.
There are 12 National Highways crossing Nagaland covering a total length of 1631 km, out of which 1111 km is entrusted to the Nagaland PWD (NH), he said.
The Department would be taking up widening of existing single lane road to intermediate lane for a total length of 178 km on NH-202, including construction of a major bridge at Yei River, improvement and widening of existing lane to intermediate lane of road for a length of 20.64 Km between Mokokchung to Chare, and strengthening of existing pavement of NH-36 from Dillia Gate to Tragopan Jn (Dimapur city portion) for a length of 6.88 km, among other projects.
The Governor said that the PWD (R&B) is presently taking up construction and upgradation of 1104 kilometre of roads at an estimated cost of Rs 2014 crore.
These include 6 ongoing projects under the North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS) covering 162 kilometre; 5 ongoing projects under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) covering 47 km; 72 km under the Central Road Fund (CRF) Scheme, 5 projects under the Economic Importance (EI) scheme covering 115 km; 5 road and 1 bridge projects under Inter State Connectivity (ISC) covering 91 km; 42 road projects under Special Assistance to State for Capital Investment (SASCI) covering 409 km, 32 roads covering a 208 Km including 4 Bridges under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Out of these ongoing projects, 715 km would be completed in 2022-23, 269 km during 2023-24, and 174 km during 2024-25, he added.
