Union Road Transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 27 highway projects in Assam.
These projects have road length of nearly 439 kilometres, involving construction value of Rs 2,366 crore.
Gadkari also unveiled a life-size bronze statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to commemorate his birth anniversary.
“These projects will ease the transportation of commercial goods within and across the state, will improve connectivity at the borders, enhance employment opportunities, save time and fuel, improve tourism and infra development, and will result in providing connectivity for agricultural produce up to larger markets,” the ministry said in a statement.
Addressing an event in Assam, Gadkari said funds worth Rs 2,104 crore were approved for 174 projects under CRIF (Central Road and Infrastructure Fund) for the state, out of which Rs 1,177 crore have been released till now.
He also announced a sum of Rs 221 crore under CRIF for the current year against the annual accrual of Rs 139 crore.
Gadkari announced enhancement in the NHO (National Highways Original) amount for Assam from Rs 1,213 crore to Rs 2,578 crore for the current financial year, the statement said.
He informed that road and infrastructure work worth Rs 85,000 crore will be taken up in the state.
Works for a sum of Rs 14,000 crore will be awarded in 2021, while DPR (detailed project report) is being made for another Rs 26,000 crore worth projects.
He said 217 km of roads were completed in the state during 2020 at a cost of Rs 1,102 crore.
19 projects of 295 km length, worth Rs 13,620 crore, were awarded this year. DPRs are under preparation for 20 projects of 845 km length worth Rs 25,700 crore, he added.
Gadkari also announced the construction of a multi-modal logistic park (MMLP) in Silchar.
“This will be the second MMLP in Assam after the one being made in Jogighopa. The state government will provide 200 bigha lands in Harinachra village along the Barak River. These will benefit the people by way of the development of road and waterways connectivity,” the statement said.