(a) whether the Government has formulated/implemented schemes/ programmes to improve connectivity and infrastructure in the North-Eastern States;
(b) if so, the details thereof, including the details of funds allocated/spent during the last three years and the current year, State-wise and scheme-wise; and
(c) the progress and achievement made in term of connectivity of remote far flung areas in various States with the district Headquarters and each State’s capital city?
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [General V.K. Singh (Retd.)]
(a)to (c):I. Road Connectivity:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has formulated the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North-East (SARDP-NE), for upgradation of 10141 km road stretches of National Highways and State Roads in the year 2005-06. Out of 10141 km of roads included under SARDP-NE, 6418 km has been approved by the Government for implementation under Phase ‘A’ and the Arunachal Pradesh Package of Roads and Highways and balance 3723 kms. has been approved only for preparation of DPR under Phase ‘B’ of SARDP-NE. Targets and Allocation are not fixed State-wise. However, the length sanctioned and achievement year wise during the last three years and the current year is as under:
(All figures in km.) Year Length sanctioned Length completed 2011-12 983 150 2012-13 69 260 2013-14 64 363 2014-15 70 78 ( up to June, 2014)Details of funds allocated year-wise along with expenditure are as follow:-
(Rs. in crore) Year Allocation Expenditure 2011-12 1950 1940 2012-13 1845 1844 2013-14 3007.83 3007.83 2014-15 3000 453.67 (up to June, 2014)Projects are targeted for completion by March, 2017 for Phase ‘A’ and March, 2018 for Arunachal Pradesh Package. With regard to connectivity with the district headquarters the works are under different stages like Detailed Project Report, tender and implementation/completion. The status of connectivity with state Capitals is given hereunder:-
Sl. No. State Status Capital 1 Itanagar 4-lane connectivity to Itanagar with East West corridor at Nagaon has been approved by the Government under SARDP-NE. It comprises of six packages for which alignments have already approved. One project of the Brahmaputra Bridge is under bidding and balance five packages, have been approved by the High Power Committee (HPC) on 16.07.2014. 2 Guwahati Already connected by 4-lane highway through East West (EW) corridor. 3 Shillong The proposal for 4-laning of NH-40 from Jorabat to Barapani on BOT (Annuity) basis and improvement of existing 2-lane Barapani to Shillong section of NH-40 on EPC basis was included under Phase ‘A’ of SARDP-NE. The present progress of Jorabat to Barapani is 66.30 % and 41.8 km of length has been completed. The project is likely to be completed by Jan. 2015 except Umsing by-pass, for which the land is yet to be handed over by the State Government of Meghalaya and the portion from Barapani to Shillong has been taken as two lane with paved shoulder by-pass to Shillong city under SARDP-NE Phase ‘A’. 4 Kohima & 4-laning of NH-39 from Dimapur to Kohima is included as part of Imphal Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East (SARDP-NE) Phase ‘A’. This project is under bidding. 5 Aizawl The work is in progress for 2 laning connectivity to Aizawl 6 Agartala To connect Agartala with East West corridor, Silchar-Churaibari-Agartala section is being developed as two lanes under National Highway (Original) /SARDP-NE. 7 Gangtok There is no proposal to upgrade NH-31A connecting Gangtok to 4 lane standards. However, an alternate 2 lane Highway (in addition to NH 31A) has been approved by the Government.II. Rail Connectivity:
Sl. No. State Remarks 1 Manipur (Imphal) New line from Jiribam – Imphal, sanctioned in 2003-04, will provide connectivity to Imphal. 2 Nagaland (Kohima) New line from Dimapur – Kohima, sanctioned in 2006-07, will provide connectivity to Kohima 3 Mizoram (Aizawl) New line from Bhairabhi – Sairang, sanctioned in 2008-09, will provide connectivity to Aizawl. 4 Meghalaya (Shillong) New line from Tetaliya – Byrnihat sanctioned in 2006-07 & Byrnihat – Shillong, sanctioned in 2010, will provide connectivity to ShillongSivok-Rangpo new line has been taken up to provide connectivity to Sikkim but the proposal to extend this line upto Gangtok has not been taken up. There is no proposal to connect all District Headquarters in various states.