NEC gets Rs.1,118 cr infra booster

The NEC, a nodal agency for the economic and social development of the Northeast, has funded upgradation of infrastructure in 12 operational airports in the region, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that the North- Eastern Council has put maximum emphasis on the Transport and Communication sector with the construction of 10,500 kms of roads including interstate and roads of economic importance.Its allocation has already been increased to Rs.1,118 crore from Rs.800 crore during 2016-17 to promote air connectivity in the region, the NEC has supported Airports Authority of India (AAI) for upgrading of infrastructure in operational airports as the construction of Tezu Airport in Arunachal Pradesh is supported by the NEC and is likely to be operational within the current financial year. The NEC is also taking up the runway extension at the Umroi (Shillong) Airport to enable bigger aircrafts to land and three hangars at LGBI Airport in Guwahati have been completed under funding by the NEC. The new project named North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS) has been launched to take up all strategically important but hitherto neglected roads and bridges.