LIKABALI,

Union Minister of State (MoS) for Corporate Affairs and Road Transport & Highways Harsh Malhotra concluded his two-day visit to Lower Siang district on Saturday after reviewing the progress of road and infrastructure projects during a coordination meeting at Likabali.

The meeting was attended by Heads of Departments, Panchayat members, Border Roads Organisation officials and National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) Executive Director.

Reviewing the status of developmental works, Malhotra stressed the need to overcome challenges and ensure timely execution of projects with minimal hindrance.

“We have constraints, but success can only be achieved by overcoming them,” he said.

Reiterating the Centre’s commitment towards the welfare and development of the Northeastern states, particularly aspirational and underprivileged regions, the Minister assured that the longstanding demand for conversion of the 105-km Akajan–Bame road stretch into a National Highway would be taken up with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and the Defence Ministry for an early solution.

During departmental presentations, Malhotra advised officers to submit proposals and official notes to the government in a timely manner and actively pursue them.

“Development is a collective responsibility and remains a top priority of the Central Government,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister visited an Anganwadi Centre at Lipu, where he interacted with officials, Anganwadi workers and children. He also directed the district administration to provide additional basic facilities to the centre.

The Minister later inspected the road stretch from Likabali to Siji along the proposed Likabali–Bame highway to assess its condition firsthand. The road is regarded as the lifeline for six districts of the state.

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Speaker and Likabali MLA Kardo Nyigyor reiterated the demand for declaration of the Akajan–Bame road as a National Highway and sought the Union Minister’s intervention for priority consideration.

“The road will connect the existing National Highways in Assam with the state highway at Bame in Leparada district,” Nyigyor said.

Describing it as both a lifeline for six interior districts and a strategically important defence route, he said the poor condition of the road severely hampers vehicular movement during the monsoon season, often disrupting connectivity for days.

The Union Minister was accompanied during the visit by Lower Siang In-charge Deputy Commissioner Mokar Riba, Lower Siang Superintendent of Police Bomken Basar, officials of various departments, NHIDCL officials and other dignitaries. (DIPR)