Law, Legislative and Justice Minister Kento Jini has urged the Centre to hand over the newly declared strategic Akajan-Likabali-Bame (ALB) road project to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Jini believes that the BRO, with its expertise in managing difficult border terrains, is better equipped to handle the project. In a letter to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Jini expressed his gratitude to the Centre for declaring the ALB road as a ‘strategic road’.
However, he emphasized the need for the BRO’s involvement, particularly given the recent rain-triggered landslides and flash floods that have cut off the Likabali-Basar-Bame-Aalo stretch. The ALB corridor serves as a socioeconomic lifeline for seven border districts of the state, including Lower Siang, Leparada, West Siang, Shi-Yomi, Siang, Upper Siang, and Upper Subansiri. Jini highlighted the major landslide at the Siji block point, which has stranded thousands of commuters and cut off vital connectivity to the seven districts.
The minister sought the Road Transport and Highway Ministry’s intervention, requesting that the BRO be reinstated as the implementing agency for the project. The road was originally constructed, managed, and maintained by the BRO before being transferred to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) during 2014-15. Jini stated that considering the BRO’s proven track record, expertise, efficiency, and strategic importance of the project, it is believed that the BRO would be the better organisation to implement the project efficiently within the stipulated timeframe.
By bringing back the BRO, Jini hopes to ensure quality work and allow the intended benefits of the strategic corridor to reach the public without further delays.
