Itanagar
Chief Minister Pema Khandu today dedicated Arunachal’s first Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) to the people of the state. At a function here in ISBT in Lekhi village, Khandu inaugurated the Bus Terminus in presence of UD Minister Nabam Rebia, UD Parliamentary Secretary Techi Kaso, Transport Parliamentary Secretary Likha Saaya, Chief Secretary Shakuntala D Gamlin, UD Chief Engineer Taba Tedir and other officials.
“The ISBT will go a long way in benefiting the people of the state by reducing vehicular traffic pressure in the twin city of Itanagar and Naharlagun,” said the Chief Minister and instructed the Chief Secretary to strictly issue directives through concerned Deputy Commissioners to all the bus services to park their vehicles in ISBT only and to ply from here.
The Chief Minister expressed happiness in inaugurating the project, which was sanctioned by former CM late Dorjee Khandu. “I followed up with the project as UD Minister during which I kept monitoring its progress through visits and inspections. Being aware of the financial hurdles it faced, as soon I became the CM I asked the UD department to immediately bring the matter to the cabinet for fund sanction,” he told the audience gathered inside the ISBT complex.
He informed that the new Inter State Truck Terminus will be completed within this month and by December 2017, the new convention hall in IG Park will be completed. Also on pipeline are MLA apartment, which will be completed on time, said the Chief Minister and expressed happiness that during his tenure, he was able to complete the construction of state civil secretariat and Assembly building.
“The state government is very serious about the completion of all the pending big infrastructural projects so that people can use its facilities as early as possible,” said the Chief Minister.
Informing that state government has taken on communication as the priority sector, the Chief Minister said that Union Railway Ministry has been asked to increase the service of intercity Shatabdi express from Guwahati Naharlagun to 5 days in a week from the present 3 days.
Informing on air service in state, the Chief Minister said that state government will soon avail the UDAAN – regional connectivity service starting flight services from major cities in Assam to Arunachal.
He appealed the people for cooperation in early start of airport in state capital, reminding them that Arunachal is the only state in India that has no airport in its capital city. He informed that central technical team has already identified Hollongi as viable site and urged the people not claim exorbitant rates for compensation, which may prove hurdle in early completion of the project.
Earlier in a simple ceremony, a formal handover of ISBT to the transport department by UD department took place between the two officials.
UD Minister Rebia and UD Parliamentary Secretary Kaso also spoke on the occasion. In their speech, they appreciated the achievement of the UD department and urged the people to cooperate with state government in early completion of all important projects in the state.