Himanta Biswa Sarma: Rs 25,347 crore road infra projects for Assam are in the pipeline

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a productive review meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today, focusing on significant advancements in the state’s road infrastructure. The meeting, which also included MPs Pabitra Margherita and Dilip Saikia, as well as Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, aimed to expedite the completion of crucial highway projects.

Sarma said that a total of Rs 25,347 crores worth of road infrastructure projects are currently in the pipeline for Assam. The primary agenda was to ensure swift progress on the under-construction highway linking Jorhat to Dibrugarh. The construction is being overseen by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

During the meeting, representatives from the contracting firms, senior officials, and the Chief Secretary of Assam assured the Chief Minister that despite recent heavy rains in Upper Assam causing delays, work would accelerate now that the weather has improved. "All parties engaged in the construction work have committed to expediting their efforts to meet the deadlines," Sarma stated.

The Chief Minister said that connectivity in Assam is set to receive a significant boost under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “With ongoing investments of Rs 63,092 crores for the development of 1,350 km of the #PragatiKaHighway, road travel in Assam is poised for a remarkable transformation,” he added.

The meeting outlined the current status of highway projects in Assam, revealing that substantial progress has already been made. Completed projects span a length of 333 km, amounting to Rs 9,891 crores, while ongoing projects cover 726 km, totaling Rs 27,854 crores. Additionally, 163 km of projects have been approved at a cost of Rs 8,799 crores, and projects in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage account for another 129 km worth Rs 16,548 crores.

Sarma reiterated the commitment of the state government to enhance road connectivity, stating, "We are not just building roads; we are building a nation." The initiative aims to ensure that Assam leads the way in infrastructure development, setting a benchmark for other states to follow.