Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has reassured citizens that the government is committed to preserving Guwahati’s heritage and environment while advancing infrastructure development, amid protests against the felling of historic trees around Dighalipukhuri.
The proposed flyover project, connecting Dighalipukhuri to Noonmati, has sparked widespread discontent among locals after a design change that potentially threatens the area’s heritage and beauty.
Sarma emphasized that authorities are working to protect old trees in the area, urging stakeholders to allow the Public Works Department time to explore alternative proposals and assess their feasibility.
The government is constructing a 5.05 km-long, four-lane flyover, the longest in the city, from Dighalipukhuri to Noonmati at a cost of Rs 852.68 crore, scheduled to be operational by 2026.
Prominent personalities, residents, and college students have criticized the government’s plan to chop around 25 trees, some over 200 years old, along the banks of Dighalipukhuri tank.
Protesters gathered at Dighalipukhuri, submitting a petition to the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, requesting intervention. Netizens have also expressed concerns on social media, highlighting the trees’ importance as habitats for numerous resident and migratory birds.
Read More: Guwahati’s Heritage Trees Face Axe for Flyover Project, Sparking Outrage