Assam Government Sets Deadline for Road Repairs Ahead of Durga Puja
Urgent Road Repairs in Barak Valley
Ministers and officials at the meeting in Silchar (Photo: @KPaulAssam/ X)
Silchar, Sept 10: The Assam administration has established a deadline for road repairs in Barak Valley ahead of the Durga Puja festivities, following a directive from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
A high-level meeting was convened by Cabinet Minister Krishnendu Paul, who oversees the Barak Valley Development Department, along with Cabinet Minister Kaushik Rai, at the Assam Secretariat in Barak Valley on Wednesday.
The meeting focused on road projects in Cachar, Hailakandi, and Sribhumi districts, instructing agencies to address potholes, repair damaged sections, and ensure roads are safe for travel during the upcoming Durga Puja and Kali Puja celebrations.
“Our primary goal is to ensure that all roads in Barak Valley are repaired and ready for use before Durga Puja, allowing residents to celebrate without unnecessary hardships,” Paul stated during a press briefing after the meeting.
He noted that the review extended beyond standard maintenance, evaluating the progress of various projects under the State-Owned Priority Development (SOPD) scheme, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), externally funded initiatives, and all phases of Asom Mala.
The meeting also assessed the progress of the National Highway four-laning project and identified challenges hindering its progress.
Participants included Special Commissioner of the Public Works Department Sanjib Shyam, Additional Secretary of the Barak Valley Development Department Aditya Vikram Yadav, Deputy Commissioners from the three districts, and senior officials from the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
Superintending Engineers and Divisional Engineers from the PWD Roads and Building divisions were also in attendance.
MLAs Amiya Kanti Das, Bijoy Malakar, Zubair Anam, Rajdeep Goala, Aminur Rashid Choudhury, and Aminul Haque Laskar participated in the review, voicing road-related issues from their constituencies.
The meeting evaluated several significant infrastructure projects, including the Silchar–Barapani Express Highway, roads under Bharatmala and Asom Mala across the three Barak Valley districts, and the Silchar–Churaibari, Kalain–Silchar, and Sribhumi town–Sutarkandi routes via the Karimganj bypass.
Progress on the proposed Silchar flyover and the road connecting Birbal Bazar to Silchar Medical College and Hospital was also reviewed, along with the construction of Sribhumi Medical College and the new Cachar District Commissioner’s office in Silchar.
Special attention was given to NHIDCL stretches where ongoing construction has significantly inconvenienced commuters.
The agency was instructed to expedite repairs along the Silchar–Sribhumi–Churaibari corridor and ensure traffic conditions remain safe while larger projects are underway.
“We meticulously reviewed each major road, pinpointed where work is stalled, and discussed necessary actions to eliminate those obstacles,” Paul remarked.
The resolutions made during the meeting will be compiled into a formal document and presented to the Chief Minister. A follow-up review will take place in Guwahati to evaluate the implementation of these decisions, the minister added.