HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Dec 1: Chief minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday chaired a meeting with senior officials of Public Works (Roads) Department at the Road Research Institute at Fatasil Ambari in Guwahati.
Various projects such as the ongoing construction of the Guwahati-North Guwahati Flyover, Palasbari-Suwalkuchi Bridge and various issues related to the Asom Mala scheme figured prominently in the meeting.
Speaking to media persons at the end of the meeting, the chief minister stated that in association with World Bank, Asian Development Bank, among others, the Public Works (Roads) department of the Government of Assam is implementing numerous crucial projects in the State. Notable among these were the Rs. 2,608-crore Guwahati-North Guwahati Bridge, Rs. 3,197-crore Palasbari-Suwalkuchi Bridge, to name a few. These separate projects worth several crores were under various stages of implementation under the Asom Mala project.
He further stated that recently, the State had been able to get approval for two projects of immense significance from the Centre. The first being the Rs. 3,800-crore reconstruction of the road network of Dima Hasao region that was damaged by the devastating flood earlier this year. The second is the Rs. 4,000-crore conversion of 11 wooden bridges to concrete bridges.
The chief minister further stated that the ongoing construction of bridges in Guwahati have been going on in full swing and are likely to be completed within the stipulated time-frame.
He also spoke about the initiatives being taken for the construction of three additional flyovers near Cycle Factory, Fatasil and Down Town Hospital. He said that the aim was to complete the majority of the major projects by 2026.
Thursday’s meeting was attended by special commissioner & secretary (PWD) Rajesh Kemprai and other senior officials of the department.
