Tunnel under Brahmaputra now in advance stages of consideration with Centre: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Source : India Today

Assam CM Himanta Biswas Sarma on Brahmaputra under water tunnel (File Photo)

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that the rail-cum-road tunnel project to be built under the Brahmaputra river is in advance stages of consideration with the central government.

When constructed, the proposed tunnel would provide unhindered movement to the Indian Army vehicles towards the Indo-China border, especially in the wake of China’s aggressive strategy along the Arunachal Pradesh border. “The rail-cum-road tunnel will connect Misa to Tezpur. We are working on this project. This is in very advance stages of consideration with the Government of India,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the state forest department has given the no objection certificate (NOC) to construct the elevated Kaziranga corridor to protect the wildlife of the national park from vehicle-hit and facilitate their undisturbed movement.

“It is almost a reality now. The Centre had asked us to clear the line for the project before December 31 and the state forest department has given the NOC to construct the elevated corridor in Kaziranga National Park. The project will be cost at around Rs 6,000 crore,” the Assam chief minister said.

According to the state government, the elevated Kaziranga corridor will be 35-km long and is proposed to be built over the National Highway 37 that runs parallel to the southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park.

Himanta Biswa Sarma also said that the investment on capital projects in the state has been increasing.

“The Centre has given us a target that investment on capital projects in the state should be Rs 13,000 crore by March 31. But our capital investment is now around Rs 20,000 crore. Construction works of many capital projects are going on in the state,” the CM said.

“We will complete the construction work of Assam assembly building by this year. Super Speciality Hospital building construction works at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital are going on. Construction works of medical colleges in Kokrajhar, Charaideo, Tinsukia, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Nalbari, Dhubri, Biswanath, Madhabdev Kalakshetra, Guwahati-North Guwahati bridge, Guwahati convention centre, mini secretariat Barak Valley, three engineering colleges, nine model colleges, 209 high schools, 2500 LP schools six universities are going on. Five more medical colleges will be constructed in the state,” he added.