UMROI (MEGHALAYA): Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari today announced Rs 5,130 crore worth road projects for Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh , to improve their road network.The new roads were important for the economic growth of the north east, he said, adding that the 102-km Jowai-Ratacherra road in Meghalaya would be built at an estimated cost of Rs 630 crore."The Centre has allocated Rs 5,130 crore for road projects for Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh," Gadkari said.The Jowai-Ratacherra road would be the lifeline for the eastern Meghalaya district of East Jaintia Hills, he said, adding "I assure you that we will start this project within three months."The Centre, Gadkari said, had sanctioned three projects in Nagaland. The detailed project reports have been prepared and work on the them would start in three to four months.The projects are four-laning of 48-km Dimapur-Kohima road, the 35-km-long four lane Dimapur by-pass and the 17-km-long Kohima by-pass, he said.Gadkari said the cost for construction of the 100-km road in Nagaland is estimated to be Rs 2,000 crore.Referring to Arunachal Pradesh, he said a new road project costing Rs 2,500 crore is expected to start within two months.On the East-West corridor in Assam , the Union Minister said the project which is important for Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland is expected to be completed by December 2015."About 570-km road length has been completed under various packages...The remaining length of 69-km is likely to be completed by December 2015," he said, adding that some packages from Jatinga and ahead in Assam were held up due to land acquisition and landslide issues.The Union Minister was here to dedicate to the nation two important roads in Meghalaya, which also connect Tripura, Mizoram, lower eastern Assam and parts of Manipur with the rest of the country.