NEW DELHI, Aug 20 - The Centre has asked the Assam Government to open at least two toll gates in the State without any further delay. The issue of opening of toll gates in the State figured in a meeting between Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The issue was discussed in detail and Sonowal was asked to initiate a dialogue with local town committees to open the toll gates, including the one at Raha.
Earlier, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) sought the State Government�s intervention to break the logjam over the reopening of the toll gate at Raha in Nagaon district. A total of 29 organisations had opposed the opening of the toll gate.
�The State Government was urged to open toll gates on certain four-lane highways. Gadkari urged the Assam Government to ensure that the toll gates are opened without any further delay,� Union Minister of State for Food Processing Rameswar Teli, who accompanied Sonowal, later told reporters. �Two toll gates will be opened shortly and we discussed how to go about it,� he added.
The problems faced in four-laning of the highways in Assam were raised during the meeting with the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, said Chief Minister Sonowal.
�We mentioned the problems faced by the people and drew his attention to the fact that works have remained incomplete at several places. We urged him to expedite the works on several bridges, including those in Majuli island, Gohpur and Numaligarh. The maintenance of the national highways also figured during the discussion. I have requested Gadkari to depute a senior official to take stock of the works. He has assured us that he will take the necessary steps,� added Sonowal.
Meanwhile, Teli said that the discussion with the Union minister was fruitful. Gadkari has directed officials to prepare estimates for construction of bridges in Jorhat and Majuli, the foundation stones of which have already been laid, he added.
