From correspondents in Delhi, India, 07:31 PM IST

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Thursday approved the upgrading of three national highways and construction of a new four-lane roadway in the north-east region, as well as additional expenses of Rs.1.5 billion.

The three national highways to be upgraded are Silghat-Tezpur, Jamgudi-Gohpur, and Gohpur-Itanagar, while the new four-lane highway will connect Tezpur to Jamgudi.

A bridge will also be constructed over Jia Bharali river as part of the Tezpur-Jamgudi highway.

An official spokesman said pre-construction activities of these projects - being executed under phase A of the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North Eastern Region (SARDP-NE) - will cost Rs.1.5 billion.

This will raise the SARDP-NE budget to Rs.48.23 billion.

The CCEA had earlier approved Rs.46.73 billion for phase A, targeted to be completed by 2012-13.

'Upgrading national highways would improve connectivity to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and other areas located on the northern banks of Brahmaputra. It will also ease traffic flow and give boost to the socio-economic development of the north-eastern states and would generate investment and job opportunities,' the spokesman said.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)