NEW DELHI, Aug 25: Assam’s recurring flood-related road disruptions came into focus during a meeting between Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, with the state seeking both immediate repairs and a more resilient approach to highway construction.
The meeting, held in New Delhi on August 24, covered the restoration of National Highway stretches damaged during the recent floods as well as measures to prevent repeated disruption to road connectivity during extreme weather.
Rather than relying only on post-flood repairs, Sarma stressed the importance of incorporating flood-related data into the planning and engineering of highways. Particular attention was drawn to the design and positioning of bridges and culverts so that drainage can be improved and the impact of future flooding reduced.
Jorabat Problem Gets Special Attention
The persistent flash-flooding problem at Jorabat was another major issue raised by the Assam government.
Sarma called for a comprehensive redesign of highway infrastructure in the area, seeking a long-term solution to recurring water-related disruptions. The Chief Minister said Gadkari assured him that the matter would receive the Centre’s highest consideration.
Push to Speed Up Major Assam Projects
The discussions also extended beyond flood damage, with the progress of major highway projects in Assam coming under review.
Among the projects discussed were the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor and the Guwahati Ring Road, along with the proposed upgrading of important National Highway stretches across the state.
The Assam government is seeking faster progress on these projects as part of its broader effort to improve connectivity while making major transport infrastructure more capable of dealing with the state’s difficult flood and weather conditions.
The meeting brought together state and central officials involved in road infrastructure planning. Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota and Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister K K Dwivedi were among those present, according to an official release cited by ANI.
Sarma later thanked Gadkari for his continued support and assurance of consideration for Assam’s road infrastructure requirements.
The discussions come as the state works to restore infrastructure affected by the ongoing monsoon, while also looking at longer-term engineering solutions to reduce the vulnerability of Assam’s highway network to recurring floods and flash floods.
