NEW DELHI, June 27 � The Planning Commission has sanctioned a North Eastern Council (NEC) funded project to upgrade the airports at Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Umroi, Jorhat and Imphal at a cost of Rs 134.80 crore.
Further, as part of the strategy to improve air connectivity in the North-east, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) is conducting a study. The report is expected to be finalised in the next six months, announced Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Paban Singh Ghatowar addressing the 61st meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC).
The first session of the one-day NEC meeting on Wednesday saw the Governors and Chief Ministers of the north eastern States take part in a brain storming session. In the afternoon they deliberated on the draft 12th Five Year Plan of the Council and its annual plan. The Ministries of Railways, Civil Aviation and Road Transport and Highway presented action plans for the region.
Expressing concern at the delay in execution of road projects, Ghatowar said that it was a matter of concern that many of the strategic roads and stretches, which have been under implementation for a long time, are still not complete.
Ghatowar identified the Bogibeel road-cum-rail bridge, the gauge conversion project and National Highway 53 as some of the ventures facing delays.
