Guwahati: The Assam government has earmarked Rs 150 crore under the proposed Guwahati Ring Road project to tackle recurring floods in Jorabat after a recent flash flood brought traffic to a standstill, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Tuesday.
Making the announcement during the Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Sarma said the latest flooding exposed the need for a permanent engineering solution at Jorabat, an important corridor connecting Assam and Meghalaya.
The Chief Minister informed the House that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Ring Road includes a dedicated Rs 150-crore component for flood-control measures in Jorabat.
According to Sarma, consultants are finalising the technical designs for the proposed works, and the plans will be sent to IIT Guwahati for technical vetting before construction begins.
He said he expects the planned infrastructure works under the Ring Road project to substantially reduce the risk of flash floods in Jorabat once the project is implemented.
Besides flooding, Sarma pointed to the area’s longstanding traffic bottlenecks, saying Jorabat remains one of the busiest entry points between Assam and Meghalaya and frequently experiences severe congestion.
As part of efforts to improve traffic flow, the state government has proposed converting the Digaru–Narangi road into a four-lane highway.
The upgraded stretch is expected to provide an alternative route for commuters travelling from Jagiroad and nearby areas to Guwahati.
Sarma also called on the MLAs representing the Dimoria and Dispur constituencies to support the land and infrastructure requirements needed to carry out the proposed road expansion.
The proposed schemes are designed to deliver lasting improvements in both road connectivity and flood resilience across the Guwahati area.