Guwahati: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has handed over the Frontier Highway project in Arunachal Pradesh to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), leaving the state Public Works Department (PWD) out of the actual construction work despite its long involvement.
The eastern stretch of the highway will be developed by NHIDCL, with BRO responsible for work in the west.
State officials are reportedly disappointed and have raised their concerns with Chief Minister Pema Khandu about the PWD being excluded from the project.
No official reason has been shared for the change, but sources suggest it could be linked to the ongoing land compensation dispute in East Kameng district, which is still being investigated.
Estimated to cost around Rs 42,000 crore, the Frontier Highway is a strategic infrastructure initiative along the Indo-Tibet border. Once complete, it is expected to improve access to remote areas and boost both civilian and military movement.
The project has begun despite ongoing administrative issues and questions about how the state government will manage it.