Talking to media, the Chief Secretary said that the 740 MW Palatana project would be fully operational after six month of commissioning of the first phase 375 MW.
He said that the Ministry of Surface and Road Transport has already given Rs 80 crore to streamline the Assam-Agartala National Highway (NH-44) for bringing heavy equipments.
The authorities of Border Road Organization (BRO) were asked to prepare Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the project of widening and straightening of the NH-44. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 3,300 crore by May 10, he said.
The Chief Secretary said that the Centre has mulled the project to bring heavy equipments for the proposed power project. As per plan, the equipments will be brought from Kolkata to Karimganj by waterway and only NH-44 is left for bringing the equipments from Karimganj to Palatana in Udaipur subdivision.
The NH-44 needs to be improved to bring heavy equipments from Karimganj to Palatana. Under the plan, the 330 km NH-44 will be converted into four-lane except a portion from Manu to Chakmaghat. Besides, curves on the NH-44 will be reduced to zero level as much as possible to ensure easy transportation of heavy equipments meant for Palatana.
When asked about the using of Ashuganj port in Bangladesh, the Chief Secretary said hectic parley is still on. No final decision has so far been taken in this regard, he said.
It may be noted that almost all the Northeastern states will get power from the mega project and surplus power will be sold to other states like West Bengal and Orissa.
The ONGC has already undertaken massive exploration drive to meet the future demand of natural gas to be used for feeding two power projects – Palatana and Monarchak.