Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said security in the Northeast is a top priority and several strategic infrastructure projects are being implemented to ensure seamless connectivity in the region even in the event of any possible attack. The statement came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the National Highway at Moran and the Union Cabinet approved the construction of a twin-tube road-cum-rail tunnel from Numaligarh to Gohpur under the Brahmaputra river.
Twin Tunnels and other strategic projects
This ₹18,662 crore project will ensure connectivity between the north and south banks of the Brahmaputra even if any bridge is damaged. The four partners in the project are NHIDCL, the Assam government, the Indian Railways, and the Indian Army. Additionally, a railway tunnel, popularly known as the Chicken’s Neck, will be constructed along the Siliguri Corridor. The ELF at Moran is approximately 300 kilometers from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and about 70 kilometers from the Myanmar border. The Chief Minister informed that four to five more ELFs will be established in Assam in the coming years, which will also be helpful in rescue and relief operations during floods.
Focus on civic and tourism projects
Apart from security, the Assam government will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Civil Aviation next month to study the feasibility of building four new civilian airports in Majuli, Diphu, Umrangshu, and Manas. The Chief Minister said that at the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit held last year, the central government had promised infrastructure projects worth ₹80,000 crore, of which ₹55,000 crore has been approved so far. Additionally, several highway and road projects are also included, including a ropeway from Kamakhya Railway Station to Kamakhya Temple at a cost of ₹1,500 crore and an elevated corridor from Guwahati Airport to Jalukbari.
Future plans and major road projects
The Chief Minister stated that the Silchar-Shillong-Guwahati High-Speed Corridor, built at a cost of ₹22,000 crore, will be Assam’s largest road project. It will reduce travel time between Silchar and Guwahati by approximately four to five hours. Work is also underway on projects such as the Guwahati Ring Road, the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor, and the four-lane highway from Baihata Chariali to Tezpur . The Chief Minister stated that all these strategic and civic projects will strengthen the security and connectivity not only of Assam and the Northeast, but of the entire country.
