NIT Silchar director Prof NV Deshpandey & Prof Nitya Nand Pande of Assam University submitted a memorandum to Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari towards the plight of the people in the Barak Valley. SILCHAR, Aug 2 – The new Government at the Centre should lay stress on infrastructure development in the North Eastern region, particularly the Barak Valley. Drawing the attention of Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari towards the plight of the people in the Barak Valley, Prof NV Deshpande, the Director of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Silchar, and Prof Nitya Nand Pande, Professor, Department of Education, Assam University, recently submitted a memorandum in this regard. In the memorandum, the duo specifically mentioned the pathetic condition of the roads and the limited airline services, which have been deterring the socio-economic progress of the Barak Valley – the gateway to Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. They also pointed out that the delay in the completion of the much-awaited Silchar-Lumding broad gauge project is adding to the woes of the people here. In their discussion with the Union Minister, Prof Deshpande said that due to limited connectivity and poor transport facilities, the NIT, Silchar, has been deprived of quality student intake, faculty members, skilled technical staff and adequate industry-institute partnership. The pathetic road conditions, aggravated by prolonged monsoons, make it really difficult for the institute to bring in sophisticated laboratory equipment and machines. Transportation costs total more than and sometimes double the actual cost of such equipment and machines. Under such critical and adverse conditions, it is certainly difficult to raise the standard of the institute and give it a global face-lift, Prof Deshpande reasoned. Seeking the minister’s intervention to improve the gloomy state of affairs, Prof Deshpande said that if the existing road, air and water connectivity could be improved to harness the potential of the region, FDI would get a major boost and enhance the living standards of the common populace. “If the rail, road and air facilities and waterways are developed, Silchar can boost international trade and commerce, especially due to the advantage it enjoys on account of its strategic location. Also, the purpose of NITs to transform India by imparting quality technical education may also get fulfilled,” Prof Deshpande said, urging the Union Minister to visit the NIT, Silchar, to take stock of the situation. Prof Deshpande said that Gadkari reiterated his ministry’s commitment to develop the infrastructure in the NE region and promised to visit the NIT, Silchar. He will take up the issues concerned on an urgent basis. Prof Deshpande had also a meeting with Hansaraj Gangaram Ahir, MP, and member of the Railway Convention Committee. Prof Deshpande requested him to look into the broad gauge conversion project of the Barak Valley and invited him to Silchar as well. Source: Assam Tribune
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 17:03:06 +0000
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