Expedite Work on Trans-Arunachal Highway: Kamal Nath

Itanagar, Feb 9 : Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Kamal Nath has asked Arunachal Pradesh to expedite the work on Trans-Arunachal Highway, the ambitious road project under the Rs 26,000 crore Prime Minister's mega development package for the state.

Mr Nath, during a meeting with state PWD and Urban Development Minister Nabam Tuki in New Delhi yesterday, directed that there should be no compromise with the work as well as the time frame as the project was being constantly monitored by the Prime Minister's Office, official sources said here today.

Mr Nath also expressed his desire to visit the state to inspect the execution of work after the budget session, sources added.

Responding to a request made by Mr Tuki for funds to maintain the existing roads, the union minister assured that fund amounting to Rs 53 crore from the Central Road Fund (CRF) could be provided subject to submission of utilization certificate.

Mr Tuki also called on Union Minister of State for Road, Transport and Highways R P N Singh and invited him to visit Arunachal to which he also consented, sources said.

While taking part in the PWD ministers' meeting in New Delhi on Friday, Mr Tuki had called for sincere efforts by both State and Central governments to ensure adherence to timelines prescribed for various projects by the union ministry.