[ Taro Chatung ]
ITANAGAR, May 8: When former Prime Minister of India, Mam Mohan Singh had announced the Trans-Arunachal Highway package on 31st January, 2008, then chief minister late Dorjee Khandu had created the Highway Zone on 18 July, 2008 by re-designating the chief engineer PWD central zone.
Similarly, another post of chief engineer Highway was created on 12 April, 2013 by the Nabam Tuki ministry, and accordingly, one post was designated as chief engineer highway (Western Zone) and another was chief engineer highway (Eastern Zone).
It demonstrated that Tuki had a vision to create more infrastructures for the highway zone.
On 28 March this year, the Pema Khandu-led state government re-designated the chief engineer highway (Western Zone) into chief engineer PWD (North-West Zone) with jurisdiction over PWD circles of Rupa and Tawang (with its hq at Tawang), and shrunk the two highway zones into a single zone.
The decision has been taken at a time when the public is crying for early construction of the Trans-Arunachal Highway in the state.
However, Tuki’s vision on highway infrastructures was perceived as short sighted as the Tuki government’s ‘Vision 2030’ (launched in 2015) did not last for long due to imposition of President Rule in January 2016.
At the same time, the Pema-led government has a ‘Vision 2027’ which was also lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his second visit as prime minister on 15 February, 2018 at the Indira Gandhi Park here.
To implement it, Pema has to remain in the seat of the chief minister till 2027. However, in a state like Arunachal Pradesh, which is highly infamous for political uncertainty, his government’s ‘Vision 2027’ may also witness a lapse.
Only time will tell what is in store for Tuki and Pema in the political field. (The writer is a senior journalist)
