Guwahati, Dec 5: The Assam government has proposed an ambitious express highway project that could slash travel time between the two cities to just four hours. This proposal, currently under consideration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to link Guwahati to Silchar via Umiam (Barapani) in Meghalaya, promising a major boost to connectivity in the region.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, following a Cabinet meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday, revealed details of the proposed Rs. 25,000-crore project. “This express highway will connect Guwahati to Umiam and onward to Silchar, reducing the travel time to just four hours,” Sarma said. “The vision is to allow people to travel from Guwahati to Silchar in the morning and return by evening, drastically improving road connectivity and efficiency.”
The expressway project is part of a broader developmental push, with projects totaling Rs. 1 lakh crore expected to be announced by Prime Minister Modi during the upcoming Advantage Assam Summit in Guwahati in February. This massive investment aims to reshape Assam’s infrastructure landscape and stimulate economic growth across sectors.
“This highway will not just connect cities but also connect opportunities,” Sarma added. The road will pass through scenic Umiam, a popular destination in Meghalaya, potentially boosting tourism and business interactions between Assam and Meghalaya.
The expressway is one of several transformative projects lined up for the state. The projects are Bongaigaon Refinery Expansion which will help in increasing capacity by 5 million metric tonnes, Namrup Fertilizer Plant Expansion costing Rs 10,000-crore to enhance agricultural output, Guwahati Ring Road Project which will help in inproving urban connectivity and reducing congestion, Kaziranga Elevated Corridor for protecting wildlife while ensuring smoother transit, Numaligarh-Gohpur Road Tunnel and Brahmaputra Bridge which will connect critical regions like Morigaon and Darrang. Two Satellite Townships are planned for Jagiroad and Palasbari at a cost of Rs. 10,000 crore.
A Bhutan Rail Link has been envisaged connecting Guwahati to Gelephu, Bhutan, enhancing cross-border trade and tourism.
“Our discussions with the Prime Minister and central ministers have been highly productive, yielding positive outcomes for the state’s future” Sarma said.
