Centre doubles SARDP to ₹760-cr in NE

The Union government has doubled fund allocation under the Special Accelerated Road Development Program in North-Eastern Areas (SARDP-NE) for the current fiscal to ₹760 crore. Expenditure of ₹390 crore was envisaged to be incurred from the National Investment Fund for the region during 2020-21. The ministry informed that it has enhanced the allocation of funds for the expenditure under SARDP-NE related works during the current financial year and under the revised allocation it almost doubled the amount originally allocated. Of the total amount, ₹300 crore has been earmarked for the Arunachal Pradesh package. The allocations to National Highways in the North Eastern Region under 10 per cent mandatory Pool Fund has seen an upward trend in the last five years. A sum of ₹4,520 crore was allocated for the year 2016-17, ₹5,265 crore for 2017-18, ₹6,210 crore for 2018-19, ₹6,070 crore was allocated for the year 2019-20, and ₹6,780 crore has been allocated for 2020-21 fiscal under the said Fund.