Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has assured that all the under-construction NH projects in the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura are scheduled to be completed by 2028. This statement came in response to a query by UPPL MP Joyanta Basumatary in the Lok Sabha regarding the status of the NH projects in the region.
According to data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, there are currently 186 ongoing NH projects across these five northeastern states, covering a total of 3,582 kilometers, with a total investment of Rs 77,362 crore. Assam leads the pack with 66 ongoing projects, sanctioned at Rs 39,239 crore, covering 1,139 km.
In the financial year 2024-25, 31 NH projects were completed in the region, spanning 389 km at a cost of Rs 4,352 crore.
The allocated funds for the development and maintenance of NHs in the northeastern states for the year 2024-25 are as follows: Assam (Rs 5,239 crore), Arunachal Pradesh (Rs 3,488 crore), Nagaland (Rs 1,227 crore), Manipur (Rs 1,508 crore), and Tripura (Rs 514 crore).
Despite challenges like land acquisition, environmental clearances, and utility relocation, the Ministry is committed to completing all ongoing National Highway projects in the five Northeast states by 2028.
To ensure timely completion, efforts are underway to streamline land acquisition and address other potential delays.
Approximately 1,700 km of roads under NH projects, sanctioned at a cost exceeding Rs 43,000 crore, await commencement in the five northeastern states.
The government disclosed that precisely 58 NH projects in the five northeastern states are yet to begin despite approval.
Among these states, Arunachal Pradesh leads with 35 pending projects, encompassing a road length of 1,230 km at a cost of Rs 26,550 crore.