Arunchal leaders apprise AK Antony of BRO’s poor maintenance of the Tawang road

Tawang: A tourism hotspot

POLITICAL leaders from Arunachal Pradesh have expressed concerns at the slow pace of work on the key road connecting Assam with Arunachal’s tourism hotspot, Tawang. A delegation of leaders including chief minister Nabam Tuki and senior Rajya Sabha MP Mukut Mithi met defence minister AK Antony on December 2, 2011 to apprise him of the ground reality that Border Roads Organisation (BRO) which comes under the defence ministry, has not even begun surfacing of the Bhalukpong — Tawang road which is currently under construction and is being widened. 

It’s feared that tourists of this winter season are avoiding visit to places like Bomdila, Dirang and Tawang because of the poor condition of the road. Tawang, located at the soaring height of about 10,000 feet above sea level, is known for its mystic beauty. Every year, thousands of tourists visit this enchanting location bordering Tibet in north and Bhutan in the south west. Tawang is the home of Monpa tribe of the state.

The other members of the delegation who had called on defence minister Antony included MP from Arunachal West constituency Takam Sanjoy and Arunachal’s tourism minister Pema Khandu. During the meeting, leaders from Arunachal Pradesh also appealed the defence ministry to ensure that the state’s key core sector project, Trans-Arunachal highways, needs to be built at a faster pace.

Defence minister Antony assured the leaders from Arunachal Pradesh that he would immediately take up the issues with the BRO.