From Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: The ongoing Garobadha- Dalu Highway project in Garo Hills will get a major boost with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signing the $74.8 million loan deal to road connectivity within six Northeastern states of the country.
The loan constitutes the first tranche of the North Eastern State Roads Investment Program, a $200 million multi-tranche finance facility (MFF), expected to be executed in two tranches. Under the facility, a total of 433.7 km roads would be improved/upgraded/ constructed in six states- Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura.
The Garobadha-Dalu road project has been identified based on a detailed study on a priority basis through a feasibility study covering about 2,500 kilometers of road sections including State Highways and other roads that were identified as priority sections for the Northeastern states.
The 93.4 km road, which starts from Garobadha village, passes through completely hilly terrain up to end at Dalu village on NH-51.
Once completed by 2016 it will facilitate emerging trader and commerce with neighbouring Bangladesh too.
This will be ADB’s first Transport sector project in NE region to develop and implement road investments that follow widely-recognised best practices in engineering design, pre-construction activities and project management. The programme envisages enhanced and Information Technology based capacity development of the state implementing agencies / PWDs for improved road asset management, planning and project management.
A road safety programme has also been incorporated with coordinated engineering, enforcement and education components.
The first tranche, which was signed, will improve around 200 kilometers of road in the isolated states of Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim. Improvements will include widening of existing sections of roads, strengthening pavements, raising embankments, and providing permanent structures at river crossings.
The 1st tranche loan of US$ 74.8 million from ADB makes up to 68% of the total 1st tranche project cost of US$ 109.8 million, with the Central and state governments providing counterpart finance of $35 million. Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) is the National Executing Agency for the program.
Speaking on the occasion, Venu Rajamony of Finance Ministry said building better roads will reduce isolation of Northeast India and open up growth and development opportunities in some of the country’s poorest states. He said that the improved surface-transport connectivity in the region is expected to contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction and will facilitate delivery of various development schemes in other sectors within the region.
Hun Kim, Country Director for India, ADB said that better roads in the region will also significantly improve the investment climate for the private sector, both domestic and foreign.