The Tripura government has sent a proposal to the Union government to convert and develop four state highways into National Highways, said Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha.

Replying to questions raised by opposition CPI(M) , MLA Sudip Sarkar during question hours on the secondary of budget session of the Assembly on Monday, Chief Minister, who is also holding the charges of Public Works Department (PWD) said at present state have six national highways  with length of 923.31 kilometers including NH-8(Churaibari to Sabroom) with length of 401.41 km, NH-208(Kumarghat-Kailashahar, Khowai-Teliamura-Amarpur-Sabroom) total length of 265 km, NH-208A(Kailashahar-Kurti) length 45 km, NH-44A(Manu-Kanchanpur-Shimlung), length 134 km, NH-108A(Julaibari to Belonia), length 22.90km and NH-108B(Agartala to Khowai) with length of 55 kilometers.

Dr Saha said that the government sent proposal to convert state’s highways into national highways including Kamalpur-Santirbazar on NH-8 via Ambassa, Gandacherra, Amarpur on NH-208 with total length of 148 km, Champaknagar(Jirania) on NH-8 to Udaipur via Khumwlung and Jampuijala with length 40 km.

The third proposal for national highway is Amarpur on NH-2087 to Udaipur on NH-8 with a total length of 24 km and Santorbazar to Belonia with length of 17.25 km. He also said that these four highways have also been declared as national highways in principle.

Dr Saha added that maintenance of all national highways has been assigned to PWD (NH) and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), a fully owned company of the government of India.

In another question raised by MLAs Sudip Sarkar and Brishaketu Debbarma, Chief Minister informed the house that Tripura now has 21 state highways with length of 1057.45 kilometers.