The Centre’s aim to connect all State capitals in the Northeastern (N-E) regions by June 2016, seems like a distant dream. A report on the progress of road construction in N-E submitted by Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways in August to the Prime Minister’s Office shows that the average pace of construction in the past six years has been a dismal 0.52 kilometre per day.
In 2012-13, the Road Ministry could build only 260 km in the entire year in the N-E, while in 2011-12 it could construct only 150 km. In 2010-11, it fared still worse with only 146 km of new roads.
This, despite the fact that the Ministry pumped in more money and rechristened the project in 2010 as Special Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP-NE).
With an investment of Rs 40,000 crore, the roads ministry was aiming to upgrade National Highways connecting State capitals to 2/4 lane and provide connectivity to all 88 District Headquarters of N-E States by at least two-lane road. Among other targets were to improve roads of strategic importance in border areas and improve connectivity to neighbouring countries.
“Phase-A of SARDP-NE, including Arunachal Package, covers 6,418 km at an estimated cost of Rs 33,688 crore. The project is targeted for completion by June, 2016 but meeting the target will be close to impossible as the Ministry has managed to build only about 1,152 km so far,” said an official from MoRTH.
“In the first week of August, Oscar Fernandes, (Minister, MoRTH) met with chief ministers and local Public Works Department officials to take stock of the situation. He also asked local officials to take stringent measures against faulting contractors,” he said.
The Ministry has also asked the State heads to send accurate project reports, reflecting the actual ground conditions, progress, and completion status on a weekly basis.
In February 2013, former MoRTH Minister CP Joshi also visited the region to study and initiate necessary steps to expedite the highway and road construction work in the region.
The only project which the region can cheer about is the 48 kilometre Shillong bypass. The Rs 228 crore six-laned Expressway Bypass, begins at Barapani, (the biggest lake), at Umiam in Ri-Bhoi district and ends at NH 44 at Mawryngkneng in East Khasi Hills district to benefit other States Mizoram, Tripura and parts of Manipur besides Meghalaya.