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CM moves Gadkari on improving transport

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, May 2 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today urged the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari to improve and strengthen road transport and inland water connectivity in the State to provide better, safer and faster links with the remote village areas of the State.

Presenting a memorandum to Gadkari at a hotel here, Gogoi pointed out that the development of road transport and inland water connectivity would be critical for the growth and development of Assam as well as the North-eastern region as a whole. �Road and inland water transport are the two most important means of mass transportation for the common man in Assam. Road transport continues to be the most economically viable mode for the transportation of goods and passengers. At the same time, inland water transport is the lifeline of connectivity for the rural population of the State,� he said.

While underscoring the strategic importance of the North-eastern region and the vital importance of road connectivity as a key element in improving trade and commercial links, Gogoi said, �Under the Act East Policy, the North-eastern region is envisaged as India�s land bridge to the South-East and East Asian nations. The development of the road infrastructure in the North-east region connecting it with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Bhutan is thus critical. It is imperative that the infrastructure in the North-east is created and upgraded to the same standard as that of the South-East Asian nations.�

Gogoi hoped that Gadkari�s visit would provide the necessary impetus for the completion of many ongoing national highway, roads and inland water transport schemes.

The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to entrust the construction work of the newly declared NHs namely, 427, 117A, 715A, 127E, 627, 702, 702D and 329 to appropriate agencies. A total length of 716 km is yet to be entrusted to any agency.

Gogoi urged Gadkari to extend the four-laning projects beyond Dibrugarh to Panchu Pass in Arunachal Pradesh via Joyrampur in Assam to ensure the access to the Stilwell Road. �This is important as China has already constructed an eight-lane road on its side,� he said.

Taking up the progress of the construction of the East-West Corridor, Gogoi urged Gadkari to expedite the construction work of the additional bridge over the Brahmaputra river adjacent to the Saraighat bridge. �The delay has resulted in a traffic bottleneck at the existing Saraighat bridge, resulting in huge traffic jams,� he added.

The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to expedite the long delayed work at the Jalukbari junction and ensure its completion by December, 2015. Gogoi also called for expediting the construction of the Jatinga-Harangjhao Section that has come to a standstill due to landslide. �The East-West corridor is a vital link to the Barak Valley. However, this stretch requires realignment to avoid the landslide-prone areas,� he added.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the State Government has taken up the issue of land acquisition seriously and has resolved a large number of cases to enable continued implementation. Gogoi pleaded with Gadkari to provide adequate funds for the construction of rural roads.

Gogoi requested Gadkari to set up a machinery bank to provide machinery to local entrepreneurs.

The Chief Minister requested Gadkari for a special investment package for improving the quality of the national highways passing through the Barak Valley. In this context, the Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to extensively upgrade the stretch from Jowai to Malidhar bridge in Meghalaya to improve communication between the Brahmaputra and Barak Valleys and also to other NE States.

Gogoi requested Gadkari to allow the State PWDs of the North-eastern States to draw up tender works of NHs up to Rs 100 crore that have been reduced to Rs 50 crore only.

The Chief Minister called for a rail-cum-road bridge coming up over the Brahmaputra river downstream of the Kaliabhomora bridge to improve the rail connectivity between the north and south banks of the Brahmaputra.

Gogoi urged Gadkari to upgrade and develop new NHs namely, Nellie-Baithalangso-Doyangmukh-Umrangso-Sangbor-Harangjhao (NH-627) and Phulbari-Dhubri-Srirampur including the construction of a new bridge over the Brahmaputra river (NH-127B). The Chief Minister also pleaded for connectivity of NH-52 with the East-West Corridor.

On the implementation of the project for the safety of wild animals crossing the NH-37 in the Kaziranga National Park as directed by the Green Tribunal, Gogoi urged Gadkari for adequate funds to start the project that would prevent the closure of NH-37, the lifeline of Assam

The Chief Minister urged the Union Minister for exemption of toll on national highways in Assam as it would create serious law-and-order problem and lead to further increase in transportation costs to and from the State.

Gogoi pointed out that the waterlogging problem in Guwahati has aggravated due to the non-existence of a proper drainage system in the 19-km Guwahati bypass along NH-37. �Though several years have passed since the completion of the bypass, no proper drainage system has yet been constructed, resulting in submergence and damage to the service roads. This also leads to submergence of several areas in Guwahati. The NHAI should take urgent steps to construct a properly planned drainage system along the bypass in a coordinated manner along with the rest of the city,� he added.

On the issues relating to inland water transport, Gogoi urged Gadkari for the proper maintenance of the ports on the NW-2 and NW-6 under the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister for adequate funds for road connectivity to the Pandu port; upgrade and development of the Jogighopa, Dhubri, Biswanath, Neamatighat, Dibrugarh, Badarpur and Karimganj ports into multi-model connectivity points. Gogoi sought Gadkari�s personal intervention in the improvement of river-based transport through Bangladesh, particularly Protocol Route Nos. 1 and 2.

Gogoi urged Gadkari for maintenance of channel depth and navigability of the Barak, Subansiri, Lohit, Gangadhar, Aai, Beki, Puthimari, Kopili and Dehing rivers to boost trade and commerce of Assam with Bhutan, Bangladesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur on the one hand and improve communication links with the remote settlements within Assam and other adjoining States on the other.

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