LIKABALI, May 9: Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Harsh Malhotra, who was on a two-day visit to Lower Siang district, concluded his tour today with a coordination meeting involving HoDs, Panchayat members, BRO officials and the Executive Director NHIDCL at Likabali to review the progress of road and infrastructure development in the district.
During the meeting, the Minister emphasized the need to overcome challenges in the path of development and stressed that developmental activities must continue within stipulated timelines with minimal hindrance. He remarked, “We have constraints, but success can only be achieved by overcoming them.”
The Minister further stated that the Government of India remains deeply concerned about the welfare and development of the aspirational and underprivileged states of the North East region.
Responding to the longstanding public demand for the conversion of the 105-km Akajan–Bame road stretch into a national highway, he assured that the matter would be taken up with the PMO, MoRTH and the Defence Ministry to explore a solution at the earliest.
While reviewing presentations made by various departments, the Minister advised officers to submit proposals and notes to the government in a timely manner and actively pursue them, instead of waiting passively. He reiterated that development is a collective responsibility and remains a top priority of the Central government.
Earlier in the day, the Minister visited an Anganwadi Centre at Lipu, where he interacted with officials, Anganwadi workers and children. He spent time with the children and directed the district administration to provide additional basic facilities to the centre.
The Minister also carried out a physical inspection of the road stretch from Likabali to Siji along the proposed Likabali–Bame highway, the lifeline of six districts of the State, to assess its condition firsthand.
Meanwhile, local MLA and State Assembly Deputy Speaker Kardo Nyigyor, on a reiterating mode, sought the intervention of the visiting Union Minister to accord priority consideration for declaring the Akajan–Bame road stretch as a national highway.
Describing the road as not only the lifeline of six interior districts but also a strategically important defence route, the Dy Speaker highlighted that the ‘poor’ condition of the road severely hampers vehicular movement during the monsoon season, often disrupting connectivity for days together.
The visiting Union Minister was accompanied by Dy Speaker Nyigyor, In-charge DC Mokar Riba, Superintendent of Police Bomken Basar, heads of various departments, NHIDCL officials and other dignitaries. (DIPRO)