Capital Point to Rangirkhari road to be transferred to State PWD

way2barak, July 16: Minister for Public Health Engineering (PHE), Barak Valley Development, Hill Areas Development and Guardian Minister for Cachar, Krishnendu Paul along with Minister for Food, Public Distribution, Housing and Urban Affairs, Consumer Affairs and Cooperation, Kaushik Rai chaired a high-level review meeting at the new Conference Hall of the DC’s Office here on Thursday.

The meeting brought together senior officials of the District Administration, NHIDCL, the Public Works Department (PWD), the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and other concerned agencies to review the implementation, progress and timely completion of major development works across the district.

The review focused on some of the district’s most important road infrastructure projects, including the Capital Point to Rangirkhari Road, Silchar Flyover, Road up to the Interstate Bus Terminus (ISBT) and the Birbal Bazar to Silchar Medical College & Hospital Road. Officials presented detailed progress reports, while the ministers reviewed the status of execution, identified existing bottlenecks, and directed the implementing agencies to ensure that pending works are completed within the stipulated timeframe.

The meeting also discussed the progress of several other ongoing road development projects across Cachar, with emphasis on improving connectivity, easing traffic movement and ensuring better public convenience.

Among those present were District Commissioner, Cachar, Rahul Kumar Gupta, IAS, Executive Director, NHIDCL, Nirman Kishan Jambhulkar, along with senior officers from NHIDCL, PWD, PHED, the District Administration and other line departments.

Later, speaking to media persons, Minister Kaushik Rai said that the Capital Point to Rangirkhari Road, presently under NHIDCL will be transferred to the Assam Public Works Department (PWD) for complete reconstruction. He said the PWD will prepare a fresh estimate and undertake the reconstruction of the road after following all prescribed government procedures, including removal of the existing damaged surface and laying of a new bituminous road.

The Minister further stated that heavy vehicles will no longer be permitted to ply on the Capital Point to Rangirkhari stretch and said necessary directions have already been issued to the Additional Superintendent of Police, Cachar for enforcement of the restriction in the interest of public safety and smooth traffic movement.

He also informed that the Rangirkhari to Sonabarighat Road, which is presently under NHIDCL will first undergo construction of a proper drainage system. After completion of the drainage work, the road will also be handed over to the State PWD for future maintenance and development.

Addressing concerns over the vulnerable Birbal Bazar to Silchar Medical College & Hospital Road, Minister Kaushik Rai said that around 45 per cent of the land acquisition process has already been completed. He expressed confidence that construction of the new road would begin before August 21.

Meanwhile, he said the contractor has been instructed to immediately undertake repair and maintenance of the critical 1.9 kilometre stretch starting Friday to improve the road condition until the permanent construction commences.

To minimise traffic congestion along this busy corridor, the Minister said the Police Department has been directed to deploy traffic personnel round the clock in three eight hour shifts ensuring uninterrupted traffic regulation in the area during the repair period.

Guardian Minister Krishnendu Paul also reiterated the State Government’s commitment to ensuring that all major infrastructure projects in Cachar progress without unnecessary delay and are completed within the prescribed timelines so that their benefits reach the people at the earliest.

This was stated in a press release issued by the Regional Office of Information & Public Relations, Barak Valley Zone, Silchar, Assam.