People of the northern part of the Brahmaputra Valley will soon be able to enjoy a hassle-free surface communication as soon as the ongoing construction work of the four-laning project from Dibrugarh via Koliabar Chariali in Nagaon district bordering Sonitpur district connecting with Tezpur-Dolabari-Jamuguri areas up to Dhemaji is completed. The four-laning project, when completed, will also give a boost to the surface communication for the people of neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh.
Besides, a few major bridges including an additional bridge over river Brahmaputra at Koliabhomora area and Chowkighat is also slated to be completed as the National Highway Infrastructure Development Authority (NHIDA) has already released the required funds specially sanctioned for the big-budget project. As per reports, the project of 3 km long bridge will cost Rs 6000 crore. There will be over 26 pillars and installation work for 23 pillars has already been started. Currently, around 600 workers have been engaged for speedy completion of the project. The construction of the project has been scheduled to be completed by 2019; however, it will mostly depend on the water level of river Brahmaputra.
It may be mentioned that for the last five years, the water levels of the river Brahmaputra have been very low and the construction workers were carrying out their works without any major inconvenience but now, an issue over obtaining due permission from the forest authorities, as the area comes under the Bhomoraguri Reserved Forest area, has resulted in inconvenience. This has also resulted in slow running of the project. This was claimed by the construction authorities.
It is to be mentioned that due to gradual increase in traffic volumes and the dilapidated conditions of the NH 15 and NH 37 (A), the motorists and the common people have been facing a slew of problems, besides witnessing frequent road mishaps in the last few years. More importantly, hundreds of Lakhimpur or Dhemaji-bound vehicles plying from either Guwahati or from others parts of Upper Assam have to touch Tezpur town, compounding its traffic problems. But the administration here hopes that as soon as this four-laning project is completed, the people will get respite from the traffic problems besides better communication, which will also result in the socio-economic development of the region.
Sonitpur Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Deka revealed that the funding agency National Highway Infrastructure Development Authority (NHIDA) of the Government of India has already released an amount of Rs 2,68.40 crore for the project. “The work is going on in full swing and the inhabitants, who have lost their property for the ongoing construction work, have been paid their compensations under the Fair-Compensation Act.” The Deputy Commissioner added that in Jamuguri and Gohpur and its surrounding areas, a problem in connection with releasing of lands occupied by the locals has emerged as a constraint, but that has also been settled. He also urged the people to extend their helping hand for early completion of the project. However, replying to a query regarding discrimination in giving compensation in some areas, Deka said that though such questions had arisen earlier, but those disputes have been settled as per government norms.