Shillong, Sept 25: Union Minister, Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that total works worth Rs 1,66,026 crore under the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and Rs 17,257 crore under the Public Work Department (PWD) were being taken up in the North Eastern Region.

After holding a two-day review of ongoing national highway project in the North East in Shillong, Gadkari told reporters on Tuesday that the National Highway Authority of India has also completed work of 850 km at Rs 7000 crore in the North Eastern Region.

Chief Ministers, Central and State Official, contractors and other stake holders attended the review meeting chaired by the Union Minister.

In Meghalaya, the NHAI was carrying out works in one project (62 Km) costing Rs 536 crore, and the project will complete by October this year, he said.

Gadkari said that a decision was taken to give highest priority for development of infrastructure in the North East and the NHIDCL is basically responsible for construction of roads in the region which was established by the government for special road construction.

The Minister asked the State governments to use running buses on ethanol engine where the ticket rate will be reduced by 50 per cent, pollution free and it can be a new innovation to the region as well as creating employment potential where methanol can be made from bamboo plantation.

He also encouraged converting public transport on electricity by using new innovation like ropeway and cable car which will be a game changer.

Gadkari arrived in Meghalaya on Monday where he inaugurated the two-lane Jowai-Ratacherra road, a section of NH-06 and left for New delhi on Tuesday afternoon after the review meeting.