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PM Modi to Launch Rs 23,000 Cr Assam Highway, Cutting Travel Time in Half

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam in March to lay the foundation stone for the massive Silchar-Shillong-Guwahati high-speed corridor, a project costing Rs 22,864 crore. The corridor aims to drastically reduce travel time between Silchar and Guwahati to just 4.5 to 5 hours. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also announced other major projects, including a Brahmaputra tunnel and a Kamakhya ropeway, following recent inaugurations like the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu bridge. These initiatives are part of a broader push for infrastructure development in the Northeast, with projects worth over Rs 55,000 crore already sanctioned.

Key Points: PM Modi Assam Visit: Silchar-Guwahati Corridor Foundation in March

  • Rs 22,864 cr high-speed corridor
  • Travel time cut to 4.5-5 hours
  • Brahmaputra tunnel & Kamakhya ropeway
  • Recent bridge inauguration
  • Over Rs 55,000 cr in sanctioned projects
3 min read

PM Modi to lay foundation for Silchar-Guwahati corridor this March: Assam CM

PM Narendra Modi to lay foundation for Rs 22,864 cr Silchar-Shillong-Guwahati corridor in March, slashing travel time to 5 hours, announces CM Himanta Sarma.

"This will become a game-changing road - Himanta Biswa Sarma"

Guwahati, February 15

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the state in March to lay the foundation stone for the highly anticipated Silchar-Shillong-Guwahati high-speed corridor.

The project, which carries a massive investment of Rs 22,864 crore, aims to reduce travel time between Silchar and Guwahati to just 4.5 to 5 hours, transforming regional connectivity.

"We have recieved sanction for several projects. Under the Guwahati Ring Road, the Kurua-Narengi bridge will also be included. Under this project, the Union government and Assam Government will spend Rs 5,729 crore, with land acquisition of Rs 7,000 crore. The Union government will spend Rs 6,957 crore under the Kaziranga elevated corridor project," Sarma said while adressing a press conference here.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will again visit Assam in March, and he will lay the foundation stone of the Silchar-Shillong-Guwahati high-speed corridor project, and this will become a game-changing road as this project will reduce the time from Silchar to Guwahati to 4.5 - 5 hours. This is the biggest project which will be implemented by the Union government in Assam with a cost of Rs 22,864 crore," he added.

The Assam CM also announces major infrastructure projects, including the Brahmaputra tunnel and Kamakhya ropeway.

"The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs on Friday sanctioned the twin-tube under water road cum rail tunnel on the river Brahmaputra, which will connect Numaligarh and Gohpur with a cost of Rs 18,662 crore. When Advantage Assam 2.0 (Investment & Infrastructure Summit) was held, the Union government had assured us to implement projects worth Rs 80,000 crore. So far, we have been able to get sanctions of projects worth Rs 55,000 crore. In the coming days, a few interesting projects are coming, and we will lay the foundation. One is the Kamakhya ropeway project (Kamakhya railway station to Kamakhya temple), a tender has done for this project, and we will get the selected party among the two tenders within 10 days. We will lay the foundation of this project during the Prime Minister's next visit."

On Saturday, PM Modi also inaugurated the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu across the River Brahmaputra. This new bridge is built at a cost of around Rs 3,030 crore. The 6-lane extradosed Prestressed Concrete (PSC) bridge connects Guwahati with North Guwahati and is the first of its kind in Northeast India.

Given the region's high seismicity, the bridge incorporates base isolation using friction pendulum bearings. High-performance stay cables have been used to ensure durability and long-term structural performance.

A Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) has also been incorporated to enable real-time condition monitoring, early damage detection, and improved safety and service life of the extradosed bridge.

He inaugurated and flagged off development projects worth over Rs 5,450 crore, aimed at strengthening connectivity, digital infrastructure, higher education and urban mobility in the North-Eastern Region.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While the project sounds impressive, I hope the land acquisition process for the Rs 7,000 crore mentioned is handled with utmost sensitivity and fairness. We've seen issues in the past. Development is welcome, but not at the cost of displacing people without proper rehabilitation.
R
Rohit P
The Brahmaputra tunnel and the new bridge with its health monitoring system show we are building for the future with the latest tech. This will boost connectivity and security in the region significantly. A much-needed push for the North East's economy!
S
Sarah B
As someone who travels to Shillong often, this corridor will be a blessing. The current roads are challenging, especially in the monsoon. Hoping the execution matches the announcement and is completed on time. The focus on seismic safety is very reassuring.
V
Vikram M
Rs 22,864 crore is a huge amount. I sincerely hope there is strict transparency and oversight in spending. We need this project, but we also need accountability. The promise of Rs 80,000 crore for Assam is ambitious—let's see the ground reality in the coming years.
M
Meera T
The Kamakhya ropeway project connecting the station to the temple is a brilliant idea! It will be a great help for pilgrims, especially the elderly. Infrastructure that also respects and facilitates our cultural and religious practices is the need of the hour. 🙏

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