AGARTALA, August 2 (TIWN): The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways informed that a corporation model involving all state governments of the NE would be henceforth adopted to develop the National Highway 44 and other national highways connecting the region, Tripura PWD minister Badal Choudhury said here today. Interacting with the media in the sidelines of an official briefing here this evening, PWD minister Choudhury said that he reiterated the issue of declaring a separate National Highway from Kukital to Sabroom across 310 Km to ensure dependable connectivity.

He raised the issue of developing Agartala-Sabroom segment in the National Highway 44, proper fund allocation for development and maintenance of the NH 44, NH 44 A, NH 208 and NH 108 (A). Badal urged the union minister to connect all border towns with double lane highways in the state and said that ten important roads were identified.

He proposed for development for a total length of 444.47 Km to double lane standard for a preliminary cost of Rs. 1009.55 crores to extend connectivity to distant bordering areas with the National Highway or state highways.

Asked about response from Nitin Gadkari, Choudhury today said that the union minister for road transport and highways assured of all possible help. He said that the state Public Works Department (PWD) would be writing to Gadkari by the next two days to meet all PWD ministers from the eight NE states to figure out specific requirements of the region.

“We feel we are not clear about our role in the proposed corporation model. We don’t yet fully understand our role in the development and maintenance work of NH 44, which was recently handed over to the PWD from the Border Roads Organization”, Choudhury said. He said that a meeting of the union minister with PWD ministers of all NE states would be needed to get a clearer understanding of the situation.