Centre okays Rs 200 crore for Assam’s flood-hit highways

New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday announced grant of Rs 200 crore as first instalment for immediate repair of National Highways damaged due to heavy rains in Assam.

Gadkari said that, if needed, further financial assistance will be given after a final report is submitted by an expert-team of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The expert-team, which has been dispatched for on-the-spot assessment of the damage, is expected to submit its report within a week.

The Minister’s announcement came after Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal called on him for a review of the situation following damage to National Highways in the state.

A government official said that another Rs 400 crore has been sanctioned for dredging work in the Brahmaputra River to commence from September with the help of six dredgers.

"Out of the total seven bridges to be built on Brahmaputra River during the next five years for better road connectivity with the Northeast region, work on two bridges is already underway and detailed project reports (DPRs) for three more bridges are to be prepared by the state government."

"The Minister has requested the state government to expedite the DPR process."