Shillong, Sept 24:Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Monday inaugurated the two-lane Jowai-Ratacherra (Meghalaya-Assam border) section of NH-44 (now NH-06) from a function here held in Shillong.
Construction of the 102.255 km of the project commenced on November 18, 2015 and completed on May 16 this year at the cost of Rs. 683 crore. The road originates from 69.200 km of NH-06, about 5 km from Jowai town in West Jaiñtia Hills district, and ends at 171.455 km of NH-06 at Malidor (Meghalaya-Assam border) in East Jaiñtia Hills district. The road has three major bridges, 34 minor bridges, 441 culverts, 1 tunnel, 2 toll plazas, 17 bus bays.
With the completion of the road project, trucks and heavy vehicles coming from Brahmaputra valley can move smoothly in a record time to Silchar in Barak Valley within Assam and provides connectivity to other North Eastern States like Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Southern Assam.
Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma, Chief Minister of Tripura, Biplab Kumar Deb, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Chowna Mein, Meghalaya Tourism Minister, Metbah Lyngdoh, Meghalaya Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla and Jowai MLA, Wailadmiki Shylla and other officials were present on the occasion.
Gadkari is on a two-day visit to Meghalaya for an extensive review of various national highways projects in the North Eastern states.
The review meeting was held on Monday evening by the Union Minister. The review meeting will continue on Tuesday morning.
Addressing the function, Gadkari said that the Central government has been giving highest priority for the overall development of the North Eastern States, adding that roads and connectivity are the means to prosperity and the key for the development of industries and agriculture sector.
The Union Minister also said that bamboo cannot only be used for production of paper products but it also has a huge potentiality to be used for bio-energy production and urged the State Government to make use of the raw material for creating employment opportunities in the State.
The Meghalaya Chief Minister termed the inauguration of the highway a proud and historic moment and a boon for the State of Meghalaya and the North Eastern States.
He said that the completion of the road will go a long way in boosting the economy of the area in particular and the State as a whole.
