Guwahati: A major highway expansion project aimed at improving connectivity along Assam’s North Bank has received a significant boost, with the Union Finance Ministry recommending the proposal to four-lane the 136-km Baihata Chariali–Mission Chariali stretch of National Highway-15.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared the development on Thursday, stating that the project would involve a mix of brownfield widening of the existing highway and new greenfield alignments. The project is estimated to cost Rs 15,431 crore and is expected to ease long-standing traffic congestion along the current two-lane corridor while providing seamless four-lane connectivity across the North Bank.
“Extremely happy to share that the @FinMinIndia has recommended the proposal for 4-laning of 136 km Baihata Chariali–Tezpur stretch of the NH-15. Grateful to Adarniya Shri @narendramodi ji for his continued support in taking Assam’s infrastructure to the next level,” Sarma wrote on X.
Once completed, the upgraded highway will form part of a continuous four-lane corridor stretching from the West Bengal border in Kokrajhar to the Arunachal Pradesh border in Dhemaji, significantly improving transportation and economic connectivity across northern Assam.
Of the total length, about 71 km of the existing highway will be widened, while nearly 65 km will be developed as new greenfield stretches through bypasses and realignments to ease traffic movement through congested town areas.
The project also includes major infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving traffic flow and road safety. These include the construction of 15 major bridges, 19 flyovers and 43 underpasses along the route.
One of the key strategic features of the highway will be an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) planned near the Tezpur Air Force Station, which will enable fighter aircraft to use the highway as an emergency landing strip when required.
To further reduce congestion in urban centres along the corridor, five major bypasses are planned at Baihata Chariali (8 km), Sipajhar (10 km), Kharupetia (8 km), Dhekiajuli (5 km) and Mission Chariali–Tezpur (28 km). These bypasses are expected to divert through-traffic away from densely populated areas and improve travel efficiency.
The project is part of a broader infrastructure push aimed at strengthening road connectivity across the state and linking key economic regions more efficiently.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to visit Silchar on March 14, is also expected to lay the foundation stone for the proposed Silchar–Guwahati Expressway. The expressway, estimated to cost around Rs 22,000 crore, is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Barak Valley and the rest of Assam while boosting economic integration within the state.
“The Silchar–Guwahati expressway will significantly improve connectivity between Barak Valley and the rest of Assam. It will reduce travel time and strengthen economic integration within the state,” Sarma said.
Together, the proposed four-laning of NH-15 and the upcoming expressway are expected to play a crucial role in strengthening Assam’s road infrastructure and enabling faster movement of goods and passengers across the state.