New Bus Service Connects Remote Ampri Valley to Guwahati
Connecting Remote Areas to Urban Centers
Jorabat, Feb 5: In a pivotal move to link the interior hill regions of the state with urban areas, the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) has introduced a daily bus service that connects the secluded Ampri Valley, located along the Assam-Meghalaya border, directly to Guwahati.
This new service was inaugurated on February 3 at Magurshila in Dimoria and will commence from Kasongmala village, situated approximately 29 km from National Highway-27 at Koilashil.
The bus route will traverse through Kolongpur, Barkasarong, Pithagog, Markang, Bandargog, Magurshila, and Tegheria, before merging with NH-27 at Koilashil and concluding at Paltan Bazar.
Officials indicated that this service will significantly enhance access to education, healthcare, markets, and government facilities for the inhabitants of the remote Karbi villages, who have previously relied on irregular and costly private transportation.
Co-District Commissioner of Dimoria, Biswajit Saikia (ACS), mentioned that the bus service would greatly assist daily commuters. He also noted that road construction leading to Magurshila is nearing completion, and efforts are being made to expand mobile network coverage in the Ampri Valley.
District Transport Officer Gautam Das, who launched the service alongside Dr. Srabana Misra Bhagabati from Dr. B Borooah Cancer Institute, stated that this initiative was a response to a set of demands presented by local residents to the Governor and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
He further mentioned that the Chief Minister had swiftly directed the relevant departments to implement the service. The DTO encouraged the community to support the initiative to ensure its sustainability.
Rakesh Hazarika, Executive Director of the Centre for Efficient Governance, emphasized the broader governance implications, stating that the charter of demands had become an effective democratic instrument for enhancing public service delivery.
He expressed that residents would now collaborate closely with government agencies to tackle the remaining issues related to roads and telecommunications in the valley.
Bhibi Ingti, a local resident from Pithagog, described the day as historic, stating, “Today signifies a renewed freedom for the Ampri Karbi community.”
The event, organized by local residents and predominantly led by women and self-help groups, was hailed by villagers as a landmark occasion for over 15,000 individuals residing in the Ampri Valley.