Assam to kick off ambitious Rs 4000 cr roads project

High Speed Economic Corridor will help smoothen commercial activity in Assam

Guwahati: The Assam government this week took decisions worth nearly Rs 4000 crore for a High Speed Economic Corridor (HSEC) as well as rural roads that promise to change the face of infrastructure in Assam. 

The HSEC project is a 1000-km project worth Rs3000 crore. It is a part of the Asom Mala initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2021.The decisions about the HSEC and more, were taken last Monday at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The Asom Mala initiative is a flagship program designed to improve state highways and district roads, ultimately facilitating efficient transportation and promoting economic development in Assam. The program is funded through various sources, including the State Own Priority Development (SOPD), NABARD's NIDA scheme, and Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) supported by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The cabinet decision comes as a part of the state government's commitment to modernizing the state's road network and promoting economic development. 

Another nearly Rs1000 crore will go towards upgrading 90 rural roads and four rural bridges. For this, the state government will take a loan of up to Rs 950.43 crore from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), government sources have told Business North East.

The HSEC project is a key component of Assam's infrastructure development strategy and aligns with the state's Assam Road Network Master Plan 2023 (RNMP), according to official sources. The project will encompass the improvement and upgradation of around 1000 km roads, with a focus on prioritized state highways and major district roads.

"The roads selected for improvement have been primarily drawn from the priority lists in the Assam Road Network Master Plan 2023. The project aims to enhance these roads with funding from NABARD under the NIDA scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 3545 crore, with a primary objective of widening them to two-lane carriageways," a source from government told Business North East.

These road selections were further refined based on district priorities and the availability of land for road improvements, following consultations with the relevant PWRD divisions. In total, 40 roads covering 1013 km have been earmarked for improvement and upgradation, at an approximate cost of Rs 3.5 crore per km, according to the sources.

The Assam Road Network Master Plan 2023 aims to develop 13,758 km of state highways and major district roads, including 119 state highways totalling 5,120 km and 501 major district roads spanning 8638 km.

"The objective is to initiate the implementation of the ARNMP 2023 to efficiently develop the designated SH and MDR network," said the soruces.

Highlighting the economic benefits of these projects, Goswami said the government intends to accelerate development and attract investments to accelerate economic growth. The government is sure that implementing these projects in alignment with state RNMP will reduce travel time, alleviate congestion in the state road network, and lower road user costs. It will enhance overall transportation efficiency in the state, contributing to reduced logistics costs, a goal the country is actively pursuing.

Tendering for the construction of the 1000-km road project will take time as there are several formalities and paper works pending final government approval, sources said.

Asom Mala represents a long-term perspective of the Assam Department for fuelling economic growth and enhancing road infrastructure in line with Sustainable Development Goals, ultimately striving to achieve the Assam Vision 2030.

The ambitious programme encompasses 1054 km roads and 152 bridges, including notable projects like the 2.8-kilometer Majuli - Lakhimpur connecting bridge at Dhunaguri, the 2.4-km bridge at Ghunasuti, and a 790-meter bridge over Pagladiya, among others.

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