Assam-Agartala highway is being made double-lane

Agartala: Securityman keeps vigil on the Assam-Agartala Naitonal Highway-44 at Atharamura Hills as security has been beefed up due to boycott of Republic Day called by some rebel groups in Agartala. A PTI file photo.

Assam-Agartala National Highway, considered to be the life-line of Tripura would be converted in to a double lane highway, official sources said today.

Chief Engineer of PWD, Sunil Bhowmik, said, “The work for conversion of the road from single lane to double lane would be started by September.”

He said that 86 km of the 333-km-long road was being made double lane earlier, but the work was stopped for long time.

“A high level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary, S K Panda yesterday reviewed the progress of conversion of NH-44 in the presence of the representatives from Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and State PWD,” Mr. Bhowmik said adding that BRO would complete the work.

He said, the meeting decided BRO would submit Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to Ministry of Road Transport and Highway by August for execution and the work would be started by September.

Mr. Bhowmik said that initially the national highway would be made two-lanes and later it would be converted into four-lanes.

He also stated that North Eastern Council (NEC) has sanctioned Rs 200 crore for expansion of Boxanagar-Belonia road in South Tripura district, the work for which would be started soon.