Itanagar: The ambitious 157.56 km-long PMGSY road connecting remote Vijaynagar to Miao Changlang district would be made motorable by April 25 while the blacktopping on the same would be completed by the end of September.
The historic announcement was made by deputy chief minister Chowna Mein who along with cabinet ministers Wangki Lowang, Kamlung Mosang and Honchun Ngandam visited Vijaynagar, the easternmost and one of the remotest administrative circles of the state on Saturday.
Addressing the public of the area during the visit, Mein said despite difficult situations and initial delay, the construction work along the road has made remarkable progress.
The work on the road was delayed due to its re-alignment as its passes through the Namdapha Wildlife Sanctuary. The state government had provided an additional amount of Rs 39 crore for the re-alignment process.
“Both the governor and chief minister have always remained concerned about this vital road and many review meetings have already been conducted in the past few years. We do not need a fair-weather road but an all-weather road for Vijaynagar,” Mein said.
The DCM further opined that the strategically important road needs to be handed over to Border Roads Organization (BRO) for maintenance after its completion as it will also be used for the Indian Army’s mobilization.
Mein who travelled the entire 157-km-long Miao-Vijaynagar journey on road said, besides personally inspecting the progress of the road construction work, his visit to the remote circle was also to explore the potential of the area.
I have also come to explore the potential of Vijaynagar so that the government can bring economic development in the area and help the people who have been living in difficult situations for several decades, he said.
“With roads come development, so start preparing for the days to come as you will witness enormous growth in the field of tourism, agricultural and horticulture,” Mein said, while lauding the locals for being patient and hard working.
The DCM on the occasion also assured to provide necessary funds for the construction of a multipurpose hall with a seating capacity of 300, a new EAC office complex, officers’ quarters and repair and maintenance of the police station.
He also assured to provide a 4×4 vehicle for the Vijaynagar circle officer, an ambulance for the primary health centre and to start a mini-bus or sumo service under the state transport for the area once the road is completed.
Mein also assured to look into the power requirements of the area with the development of micro hydroelectric projects (MHP) namely the 4×250 KW Dehing MHP at Vijaynagar and 2×250 KW Sirit MHP at Preetnagar and 2×25 KW Preet MHP at Mazgaon.
He informed that the Preet MHP project has already been sanctioned by the government at an estimated amount of Rs 328.73 lakh.
He, however, said that the feasibility for the 1 MW hydro electric project at Vijaynagar will be properly studied by the departmental experts so that it does not fail after completion.
Mein also assured to take up with the regional office of State Bank of India, the possibility of setting up an SBI branch at Vijaynagar so that the public can avail the benefits of various government schemes.
He further asked the officers concerned to submit estimates for the construction of internal roads within Vijaynagar and a hostel for the Government Secondary School.
Assurance to install 4G mobile towers in various locations of the circle under the USOP Scheme and regular maintenance of the solar lighting systems provided to the people of Vijaynagar and Gandhigram were also given by the DCM.
In his interaction with the public in Gandhigram, Mein assured to provide funds for construction of a multipurpose hall and a guest house.
He further said that the demand for creation of Dawodi CD Block and creation of Yobin Welfare Board will be taken up in the cabinet.
The DCM also highlighted the initiatives taken by the government for the people and farmers living in border areas in the 2022-23 state budget.
Mein along with the ministers later visited 18th century ‘Buddha Mandir’ and Twohut, Buddha Mandir, Mazgaon villages inhabited by the ex-servicemen of Assam rifles.
He assured that all these villages would soon be connected with PMGSY cluster roads.
Earlier in his interaction with the personnel of 19 Assam Rifles, Indian Air Force and Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau, Mein thanked them for extending their valuable and humanitarian services to the people in such a remote and difficult border area.
Spread across 8,000 square kilometres, Vijaynagar which comprises sixteen villages has a population of around 4400 people. The circle is surrounded on three sides by Myanmar and the other side by a vast and thick forest of Namdapha National Park.
Earlier it used to take around 7 to 10 days on foot through dense forests to reach the isolated region.
