Arunachal Minister Seeks BRO Takeover of Strategic Road Project Amid Landslide Crisis
Arunachal Pradesh Law, Legislative and Justice Minister Kento Jini has requested the central government to transfer the newly designated strategic Akajan-Likabali-Bame (ALB) Road project to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), citing the agency's expertise in managing difficult border terrains.
In a letter to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari dated July 2, 2026, Jini expressed gratitude for declaring the ALB road as a strategic corridor but argued that the BRO is better suited to execute the project. His appeal comes at a time when a portion of the Likabali-Basar-Bame-Aalo stretch remains cut off due to rain-triggered landslides and flash floods.
Jini emphasised that the road serves as a socio-economic lifeline for seven border districts—Lower Siang, Leparada, West Siang, Shi Yomi, Siang, Upper Siang, and Upper Subansiri. He noted that a major landslide at the Siji block point has stranded thousands of commuters and severed connectivity to these districts.
The minister requested the Road Transport and Highway Ministry’s intervention to reinstate the BRO as the implementing agency. According to Jini, the road was originally constructed, managed, and maintained by the BRO before being transferred to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) in 2014-15.
“Considering the proven track record, expertise, efficiency, and strategic importance of the project, it is believed that BRO would be the better organisation to implement the project efficiently within the stipulated time frame,” Jini wrote. He added that bringing back the BRO would ensure quality work and deliver the intended benefits of the strategic corridor to the public without further delays.
