No feasibility study done to build express highway in Assam: CM Himanta

Nearly four-and-half years after Centre announced a Rs 40,000-crore express highway along Brahmaputra river in Assam, state Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said no feasibility study has been carried out so far on project.

state is now going to construct ros on embankments and Rs 183 crore was sanctioned to create first such ro from Jonai to Majuli, Sarma told reporters after a Cabinet meeting here.

" express highway was a concept and no study was carried out to see if it can be implemented. We have plans to make ros on embankments. (But) this will not be a highway," he said.

proposed embankment-cum-ro project will be more of a flood control measure, Sarma said.

In April 2017, Union Ro Transport Minister Nitin Gkari h announced that government would develop first express highway of North-eastern region along Brahmaputra, entailing an investment of Rs 40,000 crore over years.

With experts raising doubts over project, which was highlighted by previous chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, never took off.

Talking about current embankment-cum-ro projects, Sarma said: " PWD specifications are more stringent than those related to flood control. When a ro is constructed on an embankment, it will be very strong." After construction of embankments, PWD will make ros. So, two departments will work and it will be stronger than ordinary embankments, which are frequently breached during flood.

"But an express highway is not possible (on embankment-cum-ro projects) because you will not get an unobstructed way all along," Sarma said.

Announcing first such project, CM said Cabinet approved Rs 183 crore to build an embankment-cum-ro from Jonai to Majuli.

" width of ro will be five metres. This project will pass through Jonai, Dhemaji, Dhakuakhana and Majuli constituencies," he ded.

Making announcement of express highway at closing ceremony of 'Namami Brahmaputra' festival in Guwahati on April 4, 2017, Gkari h requested n Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to carry out land acquisition work for ro.

Union Minister h said that 1,300-km long express highway would be axis-controlled and vehicles would be able to ply at a very high speed.

In Gkari's presence, a tripartite agreement was signed for dredging and construction of express highway between Government of Assam, National Highways Authority of India and Inland Waterways of India.