YINGKIONG, Jan 9: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday dedicated the country’s longest 300-meter single lane steel cable suspension bridge, also known as the Byorung Bridge, over the Siang River here in Upper Siang district.
Speaking at a public function here, the chief minister said the Byorung Bridge was built at a cost of Rs 48.43 crore and was funded by the Department of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) under the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) Scheme.
The bridge will reduce the distance from Yingkiong to Tuting by almost 40 kms. Earlier, the road length was 192 km.
He said the newly inaugurated bridge will benefit about 20, 000 people residing on both sides of the bank and will bolster defence preparedness.
Stating that good connectivity is the way forward for state’s prosperity, the chief minister informed that the Centre has sanctioned 268 road projects worth Rs 3,800 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
For Upper Siang district, two PMGSY projects have been sanctioned and are awaiting tender by this January, the chief minister informed.
The projects sanctioned are – 35 km road from Paling to Zido for Rs 82.10 crore and 30km road from Zido to Bishing worth Rs 42.46 crore.
He said the project of Paling to Zido road was earlier assured by him during his visit in December 2017 here to get it sanctioned.
Responding to a popular public demand, the chief minister assured to fund for construction of a new circuit house and to provide Rs 1.5 crore as initial amount under phase-I with further assurance of more funding under phase-II.
For anti-erosion work for Yingkiong and Tuting, the chief minister announced to sanction Rs 10 crore.
He also laid the foundation for construction of district secretariat building.
The chief minister was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, state BJP president Tapir Gao, Health Minister Alo Libang, MLA Pasang D Sona and MLA Olom Panyang. (CMO)
