AGARTALA / SABROOM, Dec 11 (TIWN): The double lane expansion work for NH44 is going in full swing at Udaipur to Sabroom way. Keeping in mind the faster conversion of NH44 into double lane, the forest department has began the work of chopping the trees on both the side of the roads for the expansion.

The 128 km long Agartala – Sabroom NH -44 will be widened in two phases. Phase-I, which is around 55 km, is Agartala – Udaipur and remaining 73 km categorized as Phase II is Udaipur – Sabroom.

For the double lane expansion work of NH44, earlier  Land demarcation and identification survey for double laning of Udaipur-Sabroom segment in the National Highway 44 was completed. Tender was floated for the double laning work long back with the Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt. Ltd given the responsibility of work.

It is to be mentioned here that National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) officials said the proposed project work of Agartala-Sabroom and Agartala-Udaipur national highway double lane work is going in full swing. Two companies named as Oriental Structural Engineering and KRC Company has been assigned to take over the work for double lane, said the officials.

The official of the state PWD department had said earlier that some of the offices of the state govt. and houses of the public would be evicted during the project work. The Ministry has sanctioned Rs.17 crore for water supply pipeline under the DWS department, while Rs. 69 crore has been sanctioned for shifting of electric posts and for land acquisition Rs. 400 crore has been sanctioned, said the official. 

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on June 30, laid the foundation stone for double-lane construction work of Agartala – Sabroom National Highway in presence of State Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari declared that the road connecting Sabroom with Kukital and Teliamura to Sabroom via Amarpur would be brought under the National Highway project. The Agartala-Sabroom road would be double lane having width of 10-meter excluding pavement. The 73 km Udaipur-Sabroom road will require Rs. 450 crore while 48-km Agartala-Udaipur road will need Rs. 462 crore to get double lane. According to the official, the Centre has already sanctioned fund to face lift the Agartala-Sabroom via Udaipur road which has tagged with NH-44.