The government of India has received the draft inspection report and quality assurance plan from the Assam government for the project to build a four-lane national highway project connecting Mission Chariali in Sonitpur district and Baihata Chariali in Kamrup district. Currently, there are two lanes on the roadway that connects Baihata Chariali with Mission Chariali in Tezpur. However, because of the heavy traffic on that section of the highway and the need to plan for the future, the Assam government has chosen to build the four-lane national highway after consulting with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). With a 122-kilometer total length, the project’s estimated cost is around Rs 4,000 crore.
The state government hired Marc Technocrates Pvt. Ltd., a joint venture between Bloom Companies LLC and Shreya Infra Consultants Pvt. Ltd., as a consultant for this proposed project. Following the completion of the project’s field survey, the consultant filed the quality assurance plan and draft inspection report, which were reviewed by the state PWD and sent to the Ministry for approval.
The project is named as follows, per state PWD (NH Works) sources: 4 lanes of NH-15 from Baihata Chariali (km 0.00) to Start Mangaldoi Bypass (km 28), connecting NH-15 to NH-27 (old NH-31) (missing link) with Junction design; and 4 lanes of NH-15 under Rangia NH Division from Mangaldoi (excluding Mangaldoi bypass) (km 42) to Mission Chariali (km 135).
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Five bypasses would be included in the proposed four-lane national highway: Baihata Chariali (4.654 km), Sipajhar (6.680 km), Kharupetia (6.675 km), Dhekiajuli (4.892 km), and Mission Chariali (6.456 km). Apart from the bypasses, there are plans to build forty-three bridges and five flyovers on that section of NH. Eleven of the forty-three bridges are considered major, and the other thirty-two are considered minor. Eleven vehicular underpasses are also planned to be constructed, with locations including Bezera Chowk, Dumunichowki Chowk, Narikoli Mandir, Dhula, Tangi Chariali, Thelamara-l, Thelamara-ll, Pithakhowa, Bihaguri, and ITBP.
The planned national highway has a 108-month construction period from the commencement date.
PWD sources state that land acquisition will be necessary for the project and that it will begin upon the government of India’s consent.The completion of this project will require the construction of a four-lane Mangaldoi bypass. The state government will build this section of the NH, which includes the Mangaldoi bypass, under a separate project.
