Aizawl: K Vanlalvena, Mizoram’s lone Rajya Sabha member, has expressed deep disappointment over the cancellation of the Sangau-Saisihchhuah border road project, intended to connect Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district with Myanmar’s Chin state.
The project, sanctioned for ₹66.08 crore, was withdrawn by the central government, citing land acquisition delays.
During a consultative meeting in New Delhi with DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Vanlalvena highlighted that the project stalled due to the selection of the Border Road Organisation (BRO) as the executing agency instead of Mizoram’s Public Works Department (PWD). The BRO’s planned alignment, which crossed Pangkhua village, raised compensation concerns, hindering progress.
Vanlalvena argued that the PWD’s original proposal avoided such complications by bypassing the village. He accused the BRO’s plan of creating unnecessary hurdles, resulting in the project’s inability to take off.
The Mizo National Front (MNF) MP emphasized that the project was a priority under former Chief Minister Zoramthanga’s administration. He urged the central government to reconsider its decision to withdraw funds, insisting that allocated resources should be retained for the project’s eventual execution.
In August, the Centre informed Parliament that the project funds were withdrawn as the Mizoram government failed to provide land free of cost by the June deadline. Vanlalvena countered this explanation, calling for a resolution that respects the region’s developmental needs and avoids bypassing local agencies like the PWD.
The cancellation of the Sangau-Saisihchhuah road project has sparked criticism in Mizoram, with calls for greater collaboration between central agencies and state authorities to address infrastructure challenges effectively.
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