The National Democratic Alliance government is working on a plan to bring in seamless connectivity between the 10 Naxal-affected States by building bridges and roads. It plans to launch Road Requirement Plan (RRP)-II, on the lines of RRP-I initiated by the UPA government in 2009.
More than one lakh men of the Central police forces have been deployed in these States, and lack of inter-State connectivity has hampered their operations on many occasions.
While RRP-I focused on connectivity in the 35 districts affected by left-wing extremism, RRP-II will prioritise “critical bridges” connecting two or more States to ensure smooth movement of security forces. In effect, not only the 35 worst-affected districts but all 106 Naxal-affected districts are likely to be covered by the new project. RRP-I is still being implemented. According to the latest data available, 30 per cent of the 5,477-km roads to be built under the project are yet to be completed. After it came to power in May 2014, the NDA has added 777 km of roads till June this year.
“We are preparing a Cabinet note and will send it for approval soon. RRP-II will be for inter-State connectivity,” said a senior official of the Home Ministry. The Ministry has asked the States to submit their suggestions.
“We have always believed that a two-pronged approach is required to end Naxal violence: one is security operations and the other is development. As RRP-I is still under implementation, we will initiate RRP-II after it is completed,” the official said.
Though the cost has not been calculated, RRP-II will be allocated Rs. 8,000 crore.
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have proposed that not only Khammam and Visakhapatnam, which are among the 35 worst-affected districts, but eight others be included in the project. Maharashtra has felt that border roads and critical bridges should be covered under RRP-II. Chhattisgarh wants an empowered committee constituted under the Home Ministry for taking timely action on road projects.
