Union Minister for DoNER, Tourism & Culture G Kishan Reddy with Dy CM Y Patton and others after unveiling the plaque at Sovima Gate on September 25. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 25
After enhancing road, air and rail connectivity in the North East Region, the central government is making all efforts to speed up information technology and tourism connectivity in the region, according to Union minister for DoNER, Tourism and Culture G Kishan Reddy.
The Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) minister said this was in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s oft-quoted comment that without development of the NER, the country as a whole would not move forward.
Reddy was addressing the inaugural programme of the Road from NH-29 (Sovima Village Gate to Thahekhu Village) at Nagaland State Cricket Stadium, Sovima, on Saturday.
The Union minister who earlier unveiled the commemorative plague said good roads are vital for progress and development of any nation or society.
Commenting on his road travel from Kohima to Dimapur in the morning, Reddy said once the 4-lane Dimapur-Kohima Road is completed, the road would become a “game changer” for the entire state.
He requested the officials and authorities concerned to speed up road projects in the state and assured that if the projects are taken up with sincerity, the Centre has no dearth of money to sanction funds.
He said Nagaland is a “land of opportunities” with its natural beauty and bio-diversity, rich culture and tradition of the people and numerous tribal festivals.
Reddy said under PM Modi and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, “issues” are being settled and presently peace is being slowly established in the NER as whole.
Now, it is time for development in Nagaland and the North-East, development in various spheres including industry, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure and connectivity, the Union minister said.
Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, who is also in-charge of Home and Roads & Bridges, in his address, thanked the DoNER ministry for being very considerate towards Nagaland for sanctioning various schemes, especially road projects.
Patton said the Sovima-Thahekhu Road is one among seven road projects in the state sanctioned during 2019-20 under North East Special Infrastructure Development Schemes (NESIDS). “I am being informed that the remaining 6 (six) road projects are also in good progress although there appears to be a little delay due to the global pandemic,” he said.
The Deputy CM said that with Nagaland being a landlocked state, roads are the only means of transportation and communication within the state and that the socio-economic activities of the state depend entirely on road infrastructure.
Patton further appealed the Union minister to continue funding under NESIDS till such time as the condition of roads in Nagaland comes at par with that of other states in the country.
Chief engineer PWD (R&B) Kahuli Sema, presented the technical report on construction and widening of road from NH 29 (Sovima Village Gate) to Thahekhu Village. The chief engineer informed that the works for the 8.5 km road stretch was sanctioned by Ministry of DoNER in August 2019 under NESIDS for an amount of Rs 2196.14 lakh and completed in June 2021.
In between, the work was delayed due to lockdowns owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kahuli also informed that till date, DoNER has released the first installment of Rs 876.32 lakh (40% of total cost project).
Principal Secretary for Works & Housing department, Menukhol John, chaired the inaugural programme and Secretary, W&H department Kevekha Kevin Zehol proposed the vote of thanks.
