As a mark of tribute to Nabam Runghi, the guiding force behind turning Itanagar into the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister – Pema Khandu on Friday unveiled his effigy at an interstate bus terminal at Lekhi.
According to an official statement, the state administration in 2020 named the bus terminal after Runghi, often referred to as the “architect of Itanagar”.
Following the inauguration, the CM noted that since its establishment in 1978, Itanagar has grown and expanded in leaps and bounds.
As per the CMO statement, the CM lauded Runghi’s perseverance and pursuit in establishing the then North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA)’s administrative capital.
Recognizing the contribution of Late Shri Nabam Runghi, he was also conferred with the gold medal by Arunachal Pradesh government in 2017.
Today I am glad to have also announced total face-lift of Nabam Runghi Inter State Bus Terminal, Itanagar. 2/4 pic.twitter.com/VSGerSZJ70
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) November 18, 2022
Taking to Twitter, the Arunachal CM wrote “Late Shri Runghi ji was the first agency council member of the then North-East Frontier Agency, which is today our sweet Arunachal Pradesh. He convinced then Assam Governor BK Nehru to make Itanagar the capital of our state. He carried bricks from Ita Fort, a 500-year-old heritage, to then Assam capital Shillong to prove Itanagar is a major historical place and worthy to be made capital. As a mark of respect, we named Inter State Bus Terminal after him in 2020. Proud of his perseverance!”
He carried bricks from Ita Fort, a 500-year-old heritage, to then Assam capital Shillong to prove Itanagar is a major historical place and worthy to be made capital.
As a mark of respect, we named Inter State Bus Terminal after him in 2020. Proud of his perseverance! 4/4 pic.twitter.com/QLlpHrNeRR
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) November 18, 2022
The chief minister added that he was fortunate enough to have met Runghi some years ago.
Runghi died in 2018 at the age of 84. The CM expressed his gratitude to Runghi’s wife and children for attending the inauguration, and announced that the bus terminal would soon be given facelift.
Among others, the event was attended by Lok Sabha MP Tapir Gao, Rajya Sabha MP Nabam Rebia, former chief minister and Sagalee legislator Nabam Tuki, the statement added.
