Frequent bandhs delaying strategic roads construction in North East: Antony

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): Defence Minister AK Antony has admitted that frequent local bandhs are delaying construction of the roads of strategic importance in the North Eastern region.

Most of the roads of strategic importance in the North Eastern region (NER) are entrusted to Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which maintains a road network length of 11,672 km in NER.

Responding to a starred question and supplementary from MP Takam Sanjoy (Arunachal) in the Lok Sabha, Antony further said, "The 317.5 km long stretch of road between Balipara in Assam and Tawang in Arunachal is with BRO and under development to double land specifications. Out of this, 88 km has been completed (both formation and surfacing) and works are in progress in remaining stretches."

Arunachal is a strategic state of India, sharing the longest international boundary among the states in the country with 1,680 km - 160 km with Bhutan, 1,080 with China and 440 km with Myanmar.

"Roads are being developed to double lane/class 9 (enhanced) specifications under the packages of special accelerated road development programme in NER (SARDP-NE) - 13 roads (1106 km); 30strategic roads (1,901.36 km); Arunachal Pradesh package - 5 roads (812 km) and general staff long term perspective plan (Priority-I) (GS LTPP-1) - 34 roads (1,159 km)," Antony said.

He attributed time taken in forest and wildlife clearance and land acquisition; available contractors not keen to work in far-flung areas; frequent local bandhs; damages caused due to prolonged monsoon and less working season due to high altitude and adverse climate to the delay for the project scheduled to be completed by 2016. (ANI)