Guwahati, 31st October: Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 26 significant National Highway projects in Assam. These projects, with a combined investment of over 17,500 crore, were launched during an event in Guwahati.
The event, graced by Union Minister General VK Singh, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and other dignitaries, marked a pivotal moment for Assam’s infrastructure development.
Key inaugurated projects include:
- Kaliabor Tinali-Dolabari will have four lanes, and a new two-lane bridge over the Brahmaputra River will be built (at a cost of Rs 837 crore).
- Dokmoka-Loring Thepi’s four-laning (Rs 266 crore).
- Powamara to Bataia, Trinokhal to Mundamala, and Lowarpuwa to Churaibari would all be double-laned at a cost of Rs 167 crore.
- Numaligarh Khatkhati Road strengthening (at a cost of Rs 146 crore).
Additionally, foundation stones were laid for 22 projects, totaling Rs 16,128 crore, aimed at enhancing connectivity, trade, and tourism in the region.
One of these crucial projects is the Dibrugarh-Tinsukia-Ledo initiative, designed to bolster interstate connectivity between Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The Silchar to Lailapur section will link the Barak Valley with Mizoram, fostering socio-economic growth. National Highway No 515 in Dhemaji District is set to improve connectivity between North Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
“NH-137 will enhance connectivity in the Dima Hasao Region and provide an alternate route to Western Manipur,” Nitin Gadkari said in reference to these projects. The Multi-Modal Logistics Park at Jogighopa will be made possible by the segment from Paikan to Guwahati Airport. New bridge building will also improve trade, tourism, and socioeconomic development in the area by reducing traffic.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also highlighted the significant infrastructure development, particularly the creation of vital bridges, reinforcing Assam’s role as a hub for intra-Northeast connectivity and urban decongestion.
Before the event, Gadkari held a comprehensive review meeting for ongoing National Highway projects in the Northeastern region. He emphasized that nearly Rs 3 lakh crore worth of national highway projects had been sanctioned in the past decade, increasing the length of National Highways by 45% in the Northeast.
Gadkari, however, expressed concerns over land acquisition issues in some Northeastern states, such as Nagaland and Meghalaya, stating that project closures could occur if these issues are not promptly resolved.
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