Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Jowai - Ratacherra NH - 44, says "Trucks can now move smoothly from Guwahati to Silchar"

By barakbulletin On September 24, 2018 - 5:26 pm

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is on a two-day trip to Shillong and he has made an inauguration today which would make life east for many in the North East region, including the people of Barak Valley. Today, he inaugurated the upgraded and renovated National Highway 44 and said this would boost industrial development in Meghalaya.

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Posted by Nitin Gadkari on Monday, September 24, 2018

“The NH-44, Jowai to Ratacherra is important for development of industries in Meghalaya,” Gadkari said, adding, “trucks coming from Guwahati can move smoothly in record time to Silchar, providing connectivity to the south eastern parts of Assam, Mizoram and Tripura.”

The construction for the 102-km long highway began in November 2015 and was completed in March this year, two months ahead of schedule, as per officials. Gadkari said it incurred a total cost of Rs 683 crore and the stretch has three major and 44 minor bridges, and a 143-meter tunnel.

According to the government report this Rs 683 crore project will reduce travel time between Jowai and Ratacherra by 90 minutes and bring it to 2.5 hours from the current 4 hours journey. The newly developed highway will have 2 Toll Plazas, 17 bus shelters, 2 highway patrol and 2 ambulances, besides 2 wayside amenities.

Not only this inauguration, the union minister has other projects in his itinerary. National highway projects worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore are in progress in the north-eastern states. A statement from the government mentioned, “The minister will review the status of each project in the presence of the state Chief Ministers, public works department (PWD) Ministers, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) and also the project contractors.”

The Press Information Bureau statement also mentioned, “The highways passes through the coal and cement producing belt, and is a lifeline for the landlocked states of the North East. Improved connectivity will foster economic growth in the Barak Valley and surrounding areas, open up employment opportunities and improve overall living conditions in the region,”