(a) whether the Government has any plan/scheme for improving the road connectivity in the North Eastern Region;
(b) if so, the details of the ongoing and the new projects proposed to be taken up under the
said scheme;
(c) whether the Government proposes to construct a bridge connecting the Dudpati area with
Silchar in Assam; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which survey relating to the said project
is likely to be completed and construction work is commenced?
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI KAMAL NATH)
(a) & (b): The Ministry is primarily responsible for development & maintenance of
National Highways. Under National Highway Development Project –II, 4-laning of 678 km length
National Highway from Srirampur to Silchar in Assam has been taken up as part of the East West
corridor at an investment of about Rs 6000 crore. This 4-lane highway would connect the North
Eastern region with rest of the country through a high speed high capacity route.
Improvement to 4-lane of 706km length of stretches of National Highways is proposed under
National Highway Development Project -III on Build, Operate & Transfer (BOT) basis, to complete
4-lane connectivity to all state capital towns of North East, except Gangtok.
Ministry has formulated a Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North East for
improvement of 9940 km long road stretches of National Highways and State Roads to complete
2-lane connectivity to all District Headquarters of North East. This will also improve
the road connectivity of backward, remote and border areas of the region. This will lead to
improvement of the identified stretches of the National Highways to 2-lane & 4-lane standards.
Details of road stretches proposed under East West Corridor, National Highway Development
Project -III and Special Accelerated Road Development Programme are laid on the table of the
house as Annexure-I, II & III.
The Ministry has also sanctioned under annual plans estimates for improvement of several
stretches of National Highway under its regular scheme called NH (O) to upgrade such stretches
and keep them traffic worthy.
The Ministry has also approved a number of estimates for improvement & construction of
stretches of State Roads under Central Road Fund (CRF) and the schemes of Interstate
Connectivity (ISC) and Economic Importance (E&I).
(c) & (d): No, Sir. The bridge connecting Dudpati area with Silchar in Assam does not
fall on any National Highway, nor has Ministry approved any estimate for construction of this
bridge under CRF and the schemes of ISC and E&I.