HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 27: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, inaugurated a 290-metre-long Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Panbazar in Guwahati on Saturday.
Constructed by the Northeast Frontier Railway at a cost of Rs 47 crore, the new bridge is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion in the city and enhance railway operations.
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The inaugural ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Jayanta Mallabaruah, Minister, Government of Assam; Bijuli Kalita Medhi, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha); Siddhartha Bhattacharya, MLA; Mrigen Sarania, Mayor, Guwahati Municipal Corporation; Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, General Manager, NF Railway; Samir Lohani, Divisional Railway Manager, Lumding; along with senior officials from the Railways and State Government.
Addressing the gathering, the chief minister highlighted that the new ROB will enable faster movement of electric trains, ease road congestion, and support ongoing development at Guwahati Railway Station.
He also emphasised key regional railway initiatives, including the redevelopment of 50 stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in Assam, rapid electrification, and the construction of a new double line with a bridge at Saraighat.
He noted that double line projects between Lumding–Furkating and Furkating–New Tinsukia, sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways, will significantly enhance connectivity to Delhi and Kolkata.
Sarma also acknowledged the historic rail connectivity extended to Mizoram under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed gratitude to the Northeast Frontier Railway and Indian Railways for transforming the region’s rail infrastructure.
The Panbazar ROB features a 7.5-metre-wide carriageway, a 1.5-metre-wide footpath, and is supported by 41 foundation piles.
Advanced engineering elements, including a 60-metre Bow String Girder and composite girders, ensure improved vertical and horizontal clearances for transportation.
The structure allows smooth movement of trains, including electric locomotives and over-dimensional consignments, while reducing congestion along the Panbazar–Paltan Bazar corridor.
The previous Panbazar ROB, constructed in 1965, had become inadequate due to narrow width, low clearance, and frequent waterlogging, which caused traffic bottlenecks and disrupted train operations.
To meet growing transport needs, the NFR initiated the replacement project in March 2024, completing it successfully within 18 months by August 2025.
With this commissioning, Guwahati gains a vital infrastructure asset that ensures safer, faster, and more reliable connectivity.
The new Panbazar ROB is set to benefit road users, facilitate efficient train operations, support the re-modelling of Guwahati Railway Station, and strengthen multimodal transport in the city.
