During his visit to Assam, Nitin Gadkari announced several projects worth Rs. 50,000 crores to improve connectivity in the state.
The projects include:
- Guwahati Ring Road and Narangi-Kurua bridge
- 38-km elevated Kaziranga corridor
- Jorhat-Majuli bridge
- 6-lane Khanapara-Jorabat road
- Khanapara – LGBI Airport Ropeway
Gadkari announced during a press conference in Guwahati that his ministry has approved a slew of new road projects worth Rs 68,000 crore in four Northeastern states to provide international standard surface connectivity.
Gadkari stated that new projects worth Rs 50,000 crore for Assam, Rs 9,000 crore for Meghalaya, Rs 5,000 crore for Nagaland, and Rs 4,000 crore for Sikkim were approved after reviewing various national highway projects in the region.
“Our aim is to change the entire scenario of road transport in NE by 2024. We target to make roads of international standards in this region,” he stated.
Elevated 38-kilometres-long corridor in Kaziranga National Park
According to the minister, the major projects in Assam include a 38-kilometre-long elevated corridor in Kaziranga National Park for Rs 6,000 crore, a ring road in Guwahati for Rs 4,500 crore, five ropeways for Rs 2,100 crore, and several highway flyovers and bridges over the Brahmaputra river.
“In Assam, we will develop 700 km of road network. Out of them, 20 projects worth Rs 14,000 crore are at the bidding stage and Rs 25,000 crore worth of projects are at DPR (detailed project report) stage,” he added.
Gadkari stated that the government will complete road projects in Assam worth Rs 2 lakh crore by 2024. The next Lok Sabha elections are scheduled for 2024.
“As part of the ring road project in Guwahati, we will build a big bridge on the Brahmaputra connecting Narengi and Kuruwa for Rs 1,800 crore. If everything goes well, I’ll try to start this ring road project within the next 2-3 months,” he added.
According to Gadkari, the projects will also include several works to widen the existing roads of the East-West Corridor in Assam and other neighbouring states.
He also approved in principle a project to connect Numaligarh on the Brahmaputra’s southern bank with Gohpur on the northern side in central Assam, at the request of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He also mentioned several new projects approved during the day for Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Nagaland. Gadkari urged Sarma to promote the use of electric vehicles, particularly buses, in order to reduce rising pollution levels, as well as the production of ethanol from bamboo in the state.
“Because of ethanol mixed fuel, our import bill (of crude) was down by Rs 40,000 crore. Nowadays, farmers are not only food providers, but also energy providers,” he added.
Previously, the minister reviewed the status of various national highway projects being implemented in the northeastern region and directed officers in charge to complete them on time.
On the first day of his three-day review here, Gadkari and his junior minister VK Singh assessed the progress of national highway projects in four states: Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Nagaland, according to an official.
The meeting was attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, senior ministry and state government officials, as well as contractors.
Land acquisition, the use of new technologies, disputes and arbitrations, and financial interventions in ongoing and future projects were all discussed at the meeting, according to Gadkari.
He also directed that projects that had been delayed for various reasons be completed as soon as possible.
