Nagaland: Union Minister Gadkari inaugurates 15 NH projects costing Rs 4,127 cr

KOHIMA: The Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs, Nitin Gadkari virtually inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 15 National Highway projects in Nagaland today. These NH Projects have a length of about 266 KM and will set the Government back by around Rs 4,127 crore.

Speaking on the occassion, Gadkari stated that the Union Government is committed to the development of North East and Nagaland and informed that 667 km were added to the NH network in Nagaland during last 6 years, depicting a growth of nearly 76 percent.

The National Highway network in the State today has been extended to 1,547 km from 880.68 km till 2014, he added.

The Minister said that almost all districts in Nagaland except a few, have been connected to a robust network of National Highways.

He said that the NH network density now is 93.30 km/ 1000 sq km against the National average of 39.90 km/1000 sq km.

The population wise density of NH network in the State is 77.73km / Lakh population against national average of 10.80 km / Lakh population.

Union Minister Gadkari further informed that for development and improvement of National Highways, 55 projects of total length 1063.41 km and total cost of Rs. 11,711 Cr have been approved in the last 6 years.

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This includes about 48 km of 3 projects concrete roads as part of the improvement of Dimapur City project (Largest city of Nagaland) at a total cost of about Rs. 1,598 crore. He said 16 projects of length 690 Km amounting to Rs 7,955 crore are in progress.

Another seven works of 105 Km amounting to Rs 966.75 Crore are in tendering stage.

He also indicated that 11 works of 178 km length costing Rs. 2,127 crore are to be approved during 2020-21 with enhanced sanction ceiling. Five works of 524 km costing over Rs.6,000 Cr are in DPR stage.

The Union Minister added that under CRF, total Sanction till now from 2002 is Rs 1,334.3 Cr, of which Rs. 487.14 Crore has been released.

He announced that a sum of Rs 45 crore is being released for Nagaland soon and also pointed out that the State’s BoS ratio is 11.5% today, which is very high.

Gadkari requested the Chief Minister to urgently send the estimates for Land and Damage Compensation in respect of Kohima Bypass and also informed that NHIDCL has taken up 2-laning of Kohima-Mao road in Nagaland, and the civil work has already been awarded on September 30, 2020.

The Appointed Date has been declared as 20 October, 2020 and the contractor has mobilised on Site. Stating that the estimate for damage compensation is awaited, he added that the same may be expedited by the State Government so that the Civil Work can be started at the earliest.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said ‘these projects will improve connectivity & socio-economic activities in Nagaland, with neighbouring states & Myanmar border.’

Speaking about 26.25 km Kohima – Mao Road, Gadkari informed that this stretch is also important part of Asian Highway (AH-1) connecting to Myanmar as it will greatly improve connectivity of Kohima city to Manipur border.

It also has importance in socio-economic progress of Nagaland. The better roads will help improve in growth of industry and trade & marketing of local products from various resources like bamboo etc.

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