Providing connectivity to Arunachal topmost priority: Antony

Itanagar: Defence Minister AK Antony on Friday said providing connectivity to all areas of Arunachal Pradesh, a strategically situated frontier state, was his top most priority. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki called on Antony at New Delhi on Friday evening, official sources said Itanagar.

The defence minister assured that providing connectivity to all areas of Arunachal Pradesh was one of his foremost priorities and he would fulfill it by taking up with concerned authorities, the sources said. Tuki apprised Antony about the status of several road projects including those under Border Roads Organisation. Expressing concern over the inordinate delay in completion of several road projects, he appealed to Antony for his personal intervention in order to expedite the pace of works being carried out.

Tuki further emphasised on the strategic importance of the famous but dilapidated Stilwell Road to enhance border trade, particularly along Pangsau Pass in Changlang district bordering Myanmar. He said opening of the Stilwell road would open up vast avenues of trade with South East Asia, which has also been envisaged in the Look East Policy of the Centre.

Nabam Tuki apprised Antony about the status of several road projects including those under Border Roads Organisation.

Both the leaders also discussed various issues of strategic interest to the state as well as the country. Later, Tuki called on Minister of State for Defence Jitender Singh and asked for early start of the National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (NIMAS) at Dirang in West Kameng district.

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)