He said the BHEL-sponsored project would be a public-private sector initiative and the government had accorded the responsibility to construct the same to a private construction company.

The proposed power project would help meet the present severe power crisis in Assam and Barak Valley areas in particular, the Minister added.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Dev said the Centre had decided to construct an alternative road between Silchar and Guwahati only to make reliable the connectivity of this region with the rest of the country.

The Centre had already given its nod for the project.

Mr Dev said he would return to Delhi to attend the Cabinet meeting within next couple of days, where the project would get approval of the Union Cabinet.

Mr Dev said an alternative road connectivity of the region - comprising Barak Valley, Tripura, Mizoram and parts of Manipur - with Guwahati was necessary given the landslide-prone NH 44 via Shillong, considered the lifeline of the region.

He said occurrence of frequent landslips at Sonapur region of Meghalaya had become a nightmare for the region.

Traffic on the road remained cancelled for many days during monsoon due to landslide.

Therefore an alternative road through Assam areas was the only solution, he stated.

Mr Dev said the Union Surface Transport Ministry also had been considering alternative arrangement at Sonapur on NH 44 only to avoid the landslide-prone zone.

--- UNI