Grant to uplift Arunachal's infrastructure

Communication in India's land of rising sun, Arunachal Pradesh, is set to take a big leap with projects from the Prime Minister's Rs 1,000-crore grant for the state, to begin operations in the next six months to one year's time. "Projects of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's package will begin in six months to one year's time and the state will have world-class infrastructure in five to 10 years, primarily in road and air communication sectors." Arunachal Governor Gen (retd) J J Singh said.

Spelling out the development activities proposed for Arunachal, Singh said a greenfield airport will be built in the state's capital, Itanagar. A similar project for the western most district, Tawang, which borders China will be taken up, he said.

Apart from the proposed rail link to Itanagar, world-class roads would be built to link the state's 14 districts. Besides, an 18,000-km two-lane highway between Tawang and Tirap has been proposed, Singh said.
Further the Guwahati-Itanagar highway will be converted into a four-lane highway, Singh said, adding that the state will play a key role in bridging Asian countries while executing the centre's "Look East" Policy.

Also, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which has faced criticism for slow rate of completion of road projects resolved to hasten the pace of work. "We are dedicated to the cause of the nation. Whenever a project is sanctioned by the ministry of defence, we try to complete it in time," BRO commander in Tawang, Major Ashish Dhingra said.