Nitin Gadkari bats for robust infrastructure, road, rail connectivity in north-east region

Development of road and rail connectivity as well as robust power and communication network will bring development, attract industries and give employment to youth in Assam, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday.

Acknowledging connectivity is the biggest problem of the north east region, Gadkari said, "After our government came to power last year, we decided to work for the development of the region and set the National Highway Road Development Corporation".

Stating that prosperity follows development of roads, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways said besides surface connectivity, electricity and good mobile connection will attract industries to the N-E region, especially Assam.

Laying the foundation stone of four packages on NH-37 at Moran in Dibrugarh district of the state, Gadkari said the highest number of construction jobs would be given to local contractors and they would also be provided with machinery, mobilisation and transportation advance.

In the coming year, one-and-a-half lakh local workers would be employed in road construction work, he added.

The minister claimed that the four-lane work of the NH-37 would cost Rs 1,200 crore, adding that it would be concrete roads so that maintenance work gets minimal.

The projects for making them four-lane are 18.40 km road from end of Nagaon bypass to Rangagara costing Rs 225.02 crore, 18.315 km from Rangagara to Kaliabor Tinali worth Rs 289.99 crore, 26.90 km from Demow to end of Moran bypass at Rs 385.55 crore and 19 km road from end of Moran bypass to Bogibeel junction near Lepetkatta costing Rs 330.30 crore.