Arunachal Pradesh Law, Legislative and Justice Minister Kento Jini has appealed to the Central Government to assign the implementation of the newly declared strategic Akajan-Likabali-Bame (ALB) Road project to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), stating that the agency is best suited to execute infrastructure projects in difficult border regions.
In a letter addressed to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday, Jini thanked the Centre for declaring the ALB Road a strategic project but requested that the BRO be reinstated as the executing agency.
The minister’s appeal comes at a time when the Likabali-Basar-Bame-Aalo road corridor continues to remain disrupted due to landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall. According to Jini, the route is a vital socio-economic lifeline connecting seven border districts—Lower Siang, Leparada, West Siang, Shi Yomi, Siang, Upper Siang and Upper Subansiri.
Representing the Aalo East Assembly constituency in West Siang district, Jini referred to the recent landslide at the Siji block point, which has severely affected road connectivity and left thousands of commuters stranded while cutting off access to the seven districts.
Seeking the intervention of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the minister noted that the road had originally been constructed, maintained and managed by the Border Roads Organisation before it was transferred to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) during 2014-15.
Emphasising the BRO’s experience in executing projects in challenging terrain, Jini said the organisation possesses the expertise required to complete the strategically important project efficiently and within the prescribed timeline.
He further stated that restoring responsibility for the project to the BRO would help ensure quality construction, timely execution and uninterrupted connectivity for people residing in Arunachal Pradesh’s remote border districts.
