Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated projects worth ₹ 1,456 cr in early June, through video conferencing, thereby marking yet another chapter of infrastructure investment in Assam. A four-lane section between Nagaon Bypass-Teliagaon, and Teliagaon-Rangagara and the foundation for Mangaldai Bypass and a four-lane section between Daboka-Parakhuwa are among these projects. Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma was also present in the programme held at Mangaldai College Playground in Darrang.
The 18-Km long four-lane section between Nagaon Bypass-Teliagaon and Teliagaon-Rangagara is worth ₹ 403 cr. This widened highway will enhance accessibility between North Assam and Upper Assam while providing opportunities for economic growth.
The foundation for the construction of a 15 km bypass in Mangaldai on NH 15 with a total cost of ₹ 535 cr will strengthen link between Assam, West Bengal, and Arunachal Pradesh, fostering seamless travel and regional integration.
The foundation for a 13-km-long bypass between Daboka and Parakhuwa on NH-29 with a total cost of ₹ 517 cr strengthens road connection along the Guwahati-Dimapur Economic Corridor, thereby fostering links to Myanmar and Thailand. The bypass will enhance inter-regional connectivity between Assam and Nagaland.
The spate of announcements has been welcomed by locals. “Our district needs a better road system. We welcome the foundation stones laying ceremony of various development projects, including ‘improvement and upgradation of Sipajhar–Tangla Road for
₹ 282.85 cr. The upgradation of this road is very important,” Dulal Deka (45), a social activist of Ward No. 7 in Sipajhar said.
“The foundation stone for construction of the four-lane Mangaldoi bypass of NH-15, once completed, will solve people’s long-standing demand to ease traffic movement in the town. The proposed four-lane road project from Baihata Chariali in Kamrup district to Mission Chariali in Sonitpur district via Darrang district will make life better for us,” said Naba Deka, another social activist.
Giving a brief account of the developmental road projects that have been executed in Assam and the North East since 2014 under the directives of PM Modi, Gadkari stated that in the next few years his Ministry plans to invest ₹ 1.5 lakh crore for new road projects in the region.
Gadkari announced preparation of a DPR for upgrading the 117 km two-lane stretch of NH 15 from Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali via Darrang to four lanes.
He also declared DPR preparation for the ₹ 6,000 crore elevated road from Kaliabor to Numaligarh through Kaziranga National Park. He urged the Assam Chief Minister to develop industry for making ‘crush barriers’ with eco-friendly bamboo to replace the iron ones to provide livelihood opportunities for the locals, something similar to what the Ministry has taken up as a pilot project from Worli (Mumbai) to Baroda.
The Assam Chief Minister, meanwhile, virtualy inaugurated four projects worth ₹ 26.22 crore in the same programme. He also laid the foundation for six road projects worth nearly ₹ 530 cr financed by the State Government. In his speech, Dr. Sarma termed the day as a golden day for Darrang district in the context of its history of development.
Dr. Sarma also inaugurated a permanent building of the pre-historic Dhalpur Shiva Mandir under Sipajhar Revenue Circle in the district.
“Darrang district needs a lot. Development activities in the district have been very limited since its inception in the 1980s. It is only in the last two years that we have seen concrete measures from the Assam Government for infrastructure development in the district,” said Madhab Sarma (64), a former principal of DIET, Darrang district, adding, “moreover, better road communication in our district will propel export of agricultural products to other parts of the State and even outside the State.”
