By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dedicated the Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura road to the nation and announced road projects worth Rs 90,000 crore for the North East in the next two to three years.
Modi inaugurated the highway at an official programme at Polo Grounds and later addressed BJP’s ‘Rally for Change’ at Polo 5th Ground. Addressing the sea of people, many of whom had come from as far as Raksamgre in Garo Hills, Modi said the Shillong-Tura project will enhance connectivity, besides serving as the east-west corridor for Meghalaya.
“The two-laning of Shillong-Nongstoin section of NH-106 and Nongstoin-Tura stretch of NH-127B will establish a link between the two important towns of Shillong and Tura,” Modi said while expressing happiness at the fact that the newly built road would reduce travel time to eight hours.
“Transformation by transportation is our motto,” he added.
The 264 km road has been constructed at a budget of over Rs 2,300 crore.
Commenting on the new announcement, Modi said, “For the next 2-3 years, road projects with an investment of over Rs 60,000 crore have been proposed under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in the region. Besides, Rs 30,000 crore will be given under the Bharatmala project in the next two to three years to build a network of highways and roads in the Northeast.”
On the other hand, Modi asserted that 4,000 km of national highways have been sanctioned in the northeastern region with a total cost of Rs 32,000 crore out of which over 1,200 km of roads have been constructed with a cost of Rs 14,000 in the last three years.
The Centre has constructed 80km of national highways in Meghalaya in three years and work is in progress for another 200 km of NH-40 and 44, the Prime Minister said.
According to Modi, the National Highway Infrastructure Corporation Limited will also construct 400km of road in the state with a budget of Rs 5,700 crore.
On the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the Prime Minister informed that the Centre has released about Rs 470 crore under the scheme to construct 700 km of road over 100 habitations in Meghalaya.
PM dreams of sea planes in North East
Maintaining that connectivity in the region is a challenge, Modi also said the region can have good air connectivity besides assuring that the Centre would work out a road map for providing connectivity in the region.
Modi, while recalling his recent experience in a sea plane in Gujarat also batted for the idea of having similar transportation in the northeastern states.
With regards to Shillong airport, Modi said bigger planes like Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 should land in Shillong airport.
“The Union Government has given its approval for runway expansion of Shillong airport with a funding of Rs 180 crore and the project should be completed within one and a half years,” Modi said.
Meghalaya would also benefit from UDAN scheme as flights from Shillong to other northeastern cities is in the offing, he added.
Rail connectivity
On railway project, Modi said the government is
) executing 15 new rail lines for 1,400 km with a cost of Rs 47,000 crore in the region.
He expressed happiness over Meghalaya coming on the railway map with Mendipathar-Guwahati railway line but at the same time lamented that even after 70 years of Independence, 4 crore households in the country are yet to have electricity.
Giving statistics, Modi said 19,000 families in Meghalaya have availed of benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for LPG connections.
Rs 100 crore for Meghalaya tourism
Stating that the Union Government wants to make Meghalaya a top tourist destination, Modi pointed out that the Centre has sanctioned around Rs 100 crore for developing Meghalaya as tourism destination.
Sports personalities
Naming few eminent sportspersons from the state, like Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Torak Kharpran and Linza Fenny Syiem, Modi recalled the successful hosting of the 12th South Asian Games in Meghalaya and Assam.
He also recalled the contribution of Dolyne Kharbhih who became the second woman from Meghalaya who climbed Mount Everest.
He expressed his joy that Meghalaya would also host the National Games in 2022 when the state will celebrate its golden jubilee as this will also mark the 75 years of India’s Independence.
“Meghalaya can become one of India’s top sporting states,” he added.