Guwahati, July 28: The proposed Indo-Bhutan Border Road connecting Saralpara, Srirampur, Udaipur and Daibuti remains stalled, with the Assam Government informing the Legislative Assembly that the project cannot move forward until the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) approves a suitable route alignment.
The status of the project was disclosed during the Assembly’s Monsoon Session while responding to Assembly Question No. 378. Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also holds the Public Works Department (PWD) portfolio, said the state had explored several alignment options, but none received clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Chief Minister informed the House that work on the project began with the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) in 2017. Mumbai-based Wadia Techno Engineering Services Ltd. was appointed to prepare the report, following which extensive technical assessments were undertaken.
As part of the planning exercise, the state carried out aerial LiDAR surveys and held consultations with agencies including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). Based on these studies, multiple route proposals were submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs for consideration.
However, with every proposed alignment being turned down and no mutually acceptable route emerging over the following years, the project eventually came to a halt. The government formally closed the project on July 31, 2020, while the unutilised funds sanctioned for the initiative were returned to the MHA in June 2022.
Responding to queries about the possibility of reviving the project, Sarma said any future progress now depends on the Ministry of Home Affairs. The road project was originally envisioned to strengthen transport infrastructure, improve connectivity and enhance security along Assam’s Indo-Bhutan border while supporting the region’s socio-economic development.
