The All Arunachal Pradesh Trans-Arunachal Highway Welfare Association has claimed that regional office (RO) of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) which was shifted from Itanagar to Tezpur in 2015 is yet to be shifted back to the state. The association submitted a representation to Chief Minister Pema Khandu and sought his intervention in this regard. The union minister for MoRTH Nitin Gadkari during a visit to state capital in January 2017 had assured to shift back the RO from Tezpur to Itanagar at the earliest. But even after more than two years, the office is still functioning from Tezpur.
The regional office looks after most of the major road projects including those under ambitious Trans Arunachal Highway (TAH) currently being undertaken in the state. The shifting of office to the neighbouring Assam has hampered the progress of road projects under MoRTH. Even for a simple clarification the files are reportedly routed to the Tezpur and it takes months to clear these files. It affects the progress of the work. Therefore, the state government should put pressure on the Centre to shift the Regional Office to Itanagar at the earliest. However the state government should ensure proper security, so that office can function without any disturbances. It is alleged that MoRTH RO was shifted out of Itanagar due to concern for the safety and security of the staffs working in it. The people of Arunachal Pradesh should also create a congenial atmosphere, especially in the state capital, for the outsiders to work freely without being harassed. This will go long way to develop Itanagar as an attractive business hub.