The Cabinet Committee for Infrastructure (CCI) met for the second time under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pema Khandu and approved proposals worth Rs 2,500 crore for infrastructure development in the state. The approved proposal is for taking up capital works pertaining to various departments across the state.
Rs 1,100 crore has been earmarked for up-gradation of road infrastructure of the state capital complex and all district headquarters besides road connectivity to all ADC/SDO headquarters over the next three years. It has also been decided that the existing Itanagar-Jote road would be upgraded as State Highway.
Horticulture projects
The CCI has doubled the allocation for horticulture projects pertaining to kiwi, orange, large cardamom, and so on from the existing Rs 30 crore to Rs 60 crore. It has been decided that a major component of such grant would be given to the farmer directly by way of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The Committee has directed for the revival of all defunct cold processing units at Namasai, Pasighat and Bhalukpong.
Electric buses
Proposal for introducing 10 electric buses between Itanagar and Naharlagun on a pilot basis in partnership with NTPC has been approved to bring relief to commuters and promote an eco-friendly mode of transportation. The number of buses would be increased in subsequent years. The CCI also approved the creation of a new DSP Traffic Cell for the capital complex to oversee and regulate traffic.
Secretariat Complexes
Construction of district secretariat complexes has been approved in all newly created district headquarters. Also, approval has been accorded in principle for the construction of a united directorate complex and integrated office complex of all Commissioners of the state government in the state capital. All urban townships would soon have LED street lights with its commissioning approved on October 21st, 2019.
Up-gradation projects
The CCI approved project proposals worth Rs 75 crore of the department of TCL, up-gradation of power infrastructure, water supply projects in all newly created district headquarters, up-gradation of Police Training Center at Banderdewa and comprehensive scheme for providing public amenities in all major townships such as litter bins, loaders and street furniture.
Reconstruction of damaged bailey bridges over Subansiri River at Daporijo, Kamle River at Raga and Kume River at Tali has also been approved beside the revival of mega food parks at Banderdewa and Tippi and creation of multipurpose convention halls on pre-engineered/pre-fabricated models.
Slow progress
Meanwhile, the CCI took a very strong view of the projects which are progressing slowly, where there has been an unapproved change in scope of work, where there is a substantial deviation between estimated costs and price discovered through tendering. It was decided that accountability will be fixed for such kind of deviations on the officers concerned with such projects.
Other proposals which were approved include augmentation of water supply at Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh and notified urban centres, creation of tourist wayside amenities at important lakes, setting up of 400 KV HT Line and external infrastructure development at Hollongi Airport site, accelerating ongoing works of stadiums at Chimpu, Aalo and Tezu, up-gradation and improvement of existing football grounds at Nari in Lower Siang district, construction of new police headquarters, commissioning of 3 newly notified police stations at Gohpur, Chimpu and Niti Vihar and others.
Photo credit: @PemaKhanduBJP
