Rs 13 Crore Road Repair Initiative in Silchar Set to Begin Before Durga Puja

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, currently on a three-day visit to Barak Valley, addressed the press today, unveiling several major infrastructure initiatives for the region. His visit, which began on Thursday, 22 August, comes in the wake of public demonstrations in Silchar, where residents protested the poor condition of the roads.

In response to growing concerns over the deteriorating roads in Silchar, the Chief Minister announced that a total of ₹13 crore has been sanctioned for the repair and construction of 13 roads within the town. He assured that seven of these roads will be blacktopped with DBM and BC layers before Durga Puja, while work on the remaining six, which includes the construction of RCC drains, will commence after the festival to avoid causing public inconvenience.

Specifically, the road from Rangirkhari to Silchar Medical College will be completed with bituminous surfacing by 30 September 2024 at a cost of ₹5.50 crore. Additionally, ₹18 crore has been allocated for the repair of the National Highway from Malidhar to Badarpur. This comes after a wave of criticism from locals who noticed that temporary road fixes were carried out just one day before the Chief Minister’s arrival.

The Chief Minister also revealed plans for the construction of Silchar’s first flyover, with preparations already underway. Furthermore, a new 1,000-bed hospital will be established at Silchar Medical College, significantly boosting the healthcare infrastructure in the region.

Sarma announced that a medical college will be constructed in Hailakandi, with the District Commissioner tasked with land identification. The project is expected to begin within the next year. Meanwhile, ₹100 crore has been allocated to ensure safe drinking water in Karimganj and Hailakandi districts.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister took a firm stance on the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh, stating that only Muslims have entered Assam illegally, not Hindus. In the past two months, 35 illegal immigrants have been detained. He also highlighted the Assam Police’s swift action in dealing with cases of violence against women.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also shared his views on various other matters during the press meet. He acknowledged the presence of 700 trained cadres within the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and assured that peace talks with the group would continue. Sarma expressed concern over the potential impact on Assam if an anti-India government were to be formed in Bangladesh, emphasising the importance of regional security.

The Chief Minister also addressed issues related to the installation of smart meters, stating that the government would install two meters in homes where problems have been reported. He pointed out that this solution had already been implemented at the residence of Akhil Gogoi.