New Delhi (PTI): The government has approved an ambitious proposal aimed at improving road connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh linking all its 16 district headquarters, besides improving connectivity in Assam, Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Friday.
The roads, proposed under Rs 12,513-crore plan by the Department of Road Transport and Highways, also have strategic importance for providing better road communication to Anini and Anjaw districts, which border China.
The proposal, cleared by the Cabinet Committee, includes construction of 1,412 km Trans Arunanchal Highway which will interlink its 11 district headquarters, besides construction of 847 km 2-lane roads providing improved connectivity to the remaining five districts.
It also includes construction of 60 km missing link between NH 52 near Roing and NH 37 near Dhola, including a major bridge over river Lohit between Dhola and Sadia in Assam.
The 776 km stretches of Trans Arunachal Highway comprising major bridges will be built on build-operate- transfer basis and would benefit all 16 districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Sibsagar and Tinsukhiya districts of Assam.
The project would also facilitate and benefit several hydro power projects across hilly terrains of the state.
The Cabinet also approved creation of a project management unit at Guwahati, headed by Additional Director General, for better and efficient implementation of Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in the North East.