Keeping his promise to complete the construction of 4-lane highway between Itanagar and Naharlagun before end of March, Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu on March 27 formally inaugurated the 10-km highway.
CM Khandu had on October 1, 2020 announced to resign if the road was not completed – except for bridges and the underpass at Bank Tinali – by March 31 this year.
Khandu formally dedicated the 4-lane highway (NH 415, Package A) from Chandranagar in Itanagar to Papunallah in Naharlagun to the people of the state. He, along with deputy chief minister Chowna Mein, who also holds the Power portfolio, inaugurated the street light system by remotely switching on the lights.
“I had full faith on our engineers, contractor and the district administration that’s why I had made that announcement. Congratulations to all for keeping the faith alive,” Khandu said congratulating all involved in completion of the project.
“Now our next target is Package B, which is from Papunallah to Nirjuli (11.3 km) and Package C from Nirjuli to Banderdewa (7.464 km),” the Arunachal Pradesh CM added.
PWD (highway) officials informed that the tender process has already been completed and agreements have been signed for both the packages have been handed over to the contractors. However, works haven’t started on both the packages as the department has to hand over at least 90% of encumbrance-free land to the contractors.
When queried by CM Pema Khandu on the reasons, the capital deputy commissioner informed that survey on the ground has already started and issues like compensation are being studied.
The chief minister reiterated that development projects should be completed on time. “The underpass construction at Bank Tinali is causing huge inconvenience to commuters. So please ensure that it is completed by April 27 as scheduled,” he advised.
He also lauded the Power department for installation of an innovative ‘smart lighting’ along the highway in record time. The lighting system is app-based and can be controlled remotely, first of its kind in the state. Officials said that even intensity of the light can be controlled from the app.
