Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has announced a landmark investment of Rs 3 lakh crore in Assam to develop world-class national highways, aiming to bring the state’s road network up to US standards. This announcement was made during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha. Gadkari assured lawmakers that there will be no shortage of funds for these ambitious road projects. He stated that the highway network in Assam will undergo a complete transformation, enhancing connectivity and driving economic growth across the region.
Several major infrastructure projects are already underway, with some expected to be completed in the next few years:
Guwahati Ring Road: Scheduled for completion by December 2027, with an estimated cost of ₹5,800 crore.
Brahmaputra River Tunnel in Dibrugarh: With an estimated cost of ₹12,000 crore, this project is currently awaiting approval.
Elevated Highway over Kaziranga National Park: Set to commence once the Cabinet provides approval, with no funding constraints.
Gadkari emphasized that these infrastructure projects will not only improve connectivity but also create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the Northeast. The minister highlighted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Northeast region has received top priority in terms of development.In response to concerns raised by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge about road infrastructure in Karnataka, Gadkari assured that the Modi government had significantly upgraded the state’s road network since 2014, though land acquisition and environmental clearance remain challenges. Furthermore, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar requested highway connectivity for Tithana village in Haryana. Gadkari responded positively, indicating that the issue would be looked into.