Simen Bridge on NH 52 Opened

Old Simen Bridge

The Minister of State for Defence Dr MM Pallam Raju inaugurated a 480 m length bridge built across river Simen on Akajan-Jonai-Pasighat road (NH 52) in Arunachal Pradesh on 5JUL12.

The minister congratulated the construction team of BRO for their dedicated efforts in completion of the bridge where work continued in monsoons and at night.

The opening of this bridge will facilitate early completion of Broad Gauge Rail Conversion Project between Rangiya and Murkongselek. The existing rail cum road bridge was a major bottleneck for smooth flow of road traffic.

The new bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs.24 crore.

Among others present on the occasion included local MP Smt. Ranee Narah, DGBR Lt Gen S. Ravi Shankar, GOC 3 Corps Lt Gen Arun Kumar Sahni and GOC 56 Infantry division Maj Gen Sanjay Kulkurni. Shri AK Bishnoi, Addl Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Dr. Subhash Sharma, Secretary, Border Roads Development Board were also present.

The Army and Paramilitary Forces and a host of other civilian agencies have been working on infrastructure development in the region.

Other Recent Developments

In December 2011, a concession agreement was signed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for widening the existing road from Nechipu to Hoj to 2-lane national highway standards on a hybrid BOT (Annuity) model under the Arunachal Pradesh Package for Roads and Highway. The target to complete 2-lane is by June, 2016.

The project road will improve the internal connectivity of western districts of Arunachal Pradesh with Itanagar, namely Seppa, Bomdila, and foster socio-economic development of the whole of the State. In addition, the road would also greatly facilitate the movement of security/defence agencies to combat anti-national activities and threats on the border areas.