Context: Recently, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has enhanced the allocation of funds for expenditure under Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North Eastern Areas (SARDP-NE) related works during the 2020 financial year.
Key Points

• Under the revised allocation, almost double the amount originally allocated has been allowed.
• Additionally, the allocations to National Highways in NE Region under 10% mandatory Pool Fund has been on an upward route in the last five years.
• Government of India has undertaken massive road development programme under SARDP-NE Scheme in NE Region.

About SARDP-NE

• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken up an ambitious Special Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP-NE) for development of road network in the north eastern States of the Country.
• This programme envisages providing road connectivity to all the district headquarters in the north eastern region by minimum 2 lane highway standards apart from providing road connectivity to backward and remote areas, areas of strategic importance and neighbouring countries.
• Programme planned in two phases (A & B) including Arunachal Package, Phase-A is under progress and Phase-B is in conceptual stage.

The objective of this scheme is three-fold:

• Development of Interstate Connectivity
• Development of access/connectivity to international border
• Development of connectivity to District Headquarters from the nearest National highways.