NEW DELHI, Jul 17: Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal said his ministry is committed to assist in all possible ways to speed up connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh.
Goyal said this when Chief Minister Pema Khandu called on him here on Tuesday evening and requested his ministry to expedite the railway projects in the state.
Giving his nod to the CM’s request, the union minister said, “Connectivity is the key to all-round development of Arunachal Pradesh,” adding that his ministry would assist the state in all possible ways.
There are 11 railway projects in the state under various stages of implementation. These are Bhalukpong-Tenga-Tawang, Silapathar-Bame-Aalo (92 kms), Pasighat-Tezu-Parashuramkund-Rupai (225 kms), Itakhola-Seijosa (18 kms), Dumduma-Namsai-Wakro (96 kms), Dangri-Roing (60 kms), Deomali-Naharkatia (20 kms), Lekhapani-Kharsang-Miao-Nampong-New Kamlang (Deban) (75 kms), Tinsukia-Pasighat via Simalguri-Kanubari (300 kms), Margherita-Deomali (31 kms), and Murkongselek-Pasighat (26.15 kms).
Of these, survey for the last two projects has been completed while surveys for the rest are to be completed by 2019.
The Misamari-Bhalukpong-Tawang line would be one of the toughest and highest in the country. The railway line is expected to include at least 21 bridges and 145 kms of tunnel length.
Pema while expressing gratitude to the union defence ministry and the railways ministry for the projects requested Goyal to fast-track sanctioning of funds for the survey-completed projects. He also urged the ministry to monitor the survey process, so that it is completed as scheduled and the construction of the railway lines starts soon.
The chief minister also drew the attention of Goyal, who also holds the finance portfolio, towards the urgent need of an airport in the state, and sought early sanction of funds for the greenfield airport in Hollongi.
Pema had on Monday met Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha and discussed the pending issue. Sinha expressed the ministry’s commitment to develop a robust and expansive aviation network in the Northeast, in accordance with the prime minister’s vision of ‘Sab uden sab juden’. (CMO)
