Itanagar, April 8: In a key administrative shift, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has assigned the execution of the Frontier Highway project in Arunachal Pradesh to the Border Roads Organisation and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, effectively excluding the state Public Works Department (PWD) from implementation despite its early involvement.
Under the revised plan, NHIDCL will be responsible for the eastern stretch of the highway, while BRO will oversee construction in the western sector. The decision has reportedly caused discontent among state officials, with concerns raised before Chief Minister Pema Khandu regarding the PWD’s exclusion.
While no formal reason has been cited, sources indicate that the move could be linked to the ongoing land compensation controversy in East Kameng district, which is currently under investigation.
The Frontier Highway project, estimated at ₹42,000 crore, is a strategically significant initiative planned along the Indo-Tibet border. The project is expected to substantially improve connectivity in remote regions while enhancing both civilian access and strategic mobility.
Despite its long-term importance, the reassignment of execution responsibilities has introduced uncertainty and raised administrative concerns at the state level during the early phase of implementation.
