PM forms high power body to study NE infrastructure
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India
Agartala, June 20 2012:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has formed a high-power committee to look into the problems of connectivity in the north eastern region and suggest measures for its development, Union minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Paban Singh Ghatowar said today.
"The committee was formed to deal with connecting all the north eastern capitals with New Delhi through rail and air and develop connectivity within the region by roads, railways and waterways," Ghatowar said here.
"It (committee) would also look into the prospect of connectivity between the region and neighbouring countries and submit reports with suggestions and the government would start working on the basis of the report," he said.
The DoNER minister said the Government of India has laid importance for effective implementation of the Look-East Policy (LEP) for economic development of the region and this would not be possible without developing infrastructure.
Tripura has a good prospect for investment as it is the only one within the region which would be a power surplus state with the commissioning of the 726 Mg Watt gas based thermal power plant at Palatana in Gomati district shortly, Ghatowar said.
Conversion of the railway track from narrow gauge to broad gauge on the Lumding-Badarpur line in Assam suffered some problems due to insurgency problem, but works were progressing now, he also said.