AGARTALA / NEW DELHI, April 27 (TIWN): Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) secretary Naveen Verma's sight seeing tour of Tripura unlikely to benefit Tripura and State reels under various crisis from NH-44 to high price of aviation sector. Naveen Verma held a Planning Commission meeting at state’s Civil Secretariat alongwith Chief Secretary Y.P. Singh, special secretaries and officials of different departments . After that,DoNER Secretary also held a meeting with Chief Minister Manik Sarkar but Tripura's various problems are far from getting resolved. DoNER announced in January this year that Ministry for Development of North East Region (DoNER) in collaboration with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway on Tuesday announced upgradation of poor roads and highways in the north-east region. Under the initiative known as North-East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS) the government will upgrade over 1,000 km of roads and inter-state highways in the region.DoNER Minister and Secretary Naveen Verma so far successful in organizing eye-catching shows like Destination North-East -2016"held February 12 to 14.

DoNER Ministry officials rather should spend  time travelling on porous roads like NH-44 in Tripura to understand the gravity of situation.

Apart form poor condition of NH-44, DoNER Ministry is silent on massive crisis of  petrol, diesel in Tripura.

"First meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for this scheme was held recently, in which five neglected inter-state roads were recommended for funding," said DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh during a media briefing on the ministry's plan for 2016.

DoNER Minister said that the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) will be the project implementing agency for the projects.

According to government sources, once the work on the five roads and highways is completed, the government will identify other roads and highways in the region that need upgradation.

"This job has been given to NHIDCL and, in fact, we have started to prepare the estimates and the DPR (Detailed Project Report). All the works will be carried on an emergency bound manner," Anand Kumar, managing director of NHIDCL told media.

DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh earlier said that the revival of the north east roads will give a boost to the economy of the rural areas in the region.

"These were the roads which used to be a strong link for the north-east states, but over the years their conditions deteriorated as no one was there to take care of them. However, with their upgradation, the NE economy will again get a boost," said Anand Kumar, managing director of NHIDCL a 1984 batch Indian Administrative Service officer.

However, Tripura's Manik Sarkar led CPI-M Govt's main goal is garnering central funds, least bothered about proper utilization - so major portion of central funds are always ending up in embezzlements.

So, DoNER Secretary Naveen Verma's Agartala Tour and sumptuous meals with Tripura Govt officials at State Guest House less likely to solve Tripura's pending problems.