New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS): The government Thursday said it has initiated a mega road development programme in the northeast region.

According to Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon. Radhakrishnan, the government has initiated a mega road development programme under “special accelerated road development programme in northeast (SARDP-NE)”.

The minister informed parliament that as on date, the government has given approval for two- or four-laning of 6,418 km of various categories of roads under phase ‘A’ of SARDP-NE at an investment of about Rs.33,500 crore.

The minister told the Lok Sabha that the government has also given approval to preparation of a detailed project report for 3,723 km of roads under phase ‘B’.

The minister further informed the Lok Sabha that the approved length of trans-Arunachal highways under SARDP-NE is 1,326 km, out of which, a total of 120 km has been completed so far and 220 km is targeted for completion by March, 2015.

The minister added that there were delays in completion of the east-west corridor and Saraighat bridge in Assam due to land acquisition, change in design and slow mobilisation of resources.