GUWAHATI: The Central Government has taken up 17 national highway stretches for widening and improvement at a cost of Rs 5739.30 crore. The Centre has entrusted the NHIDCL (National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.) with the execution of these packages, and the NHIDCL has already awarded the works to various construction companies after the tendering process.
According to government rules, the NHIDCL has to issue appointment dates to the construction companies. The NHIFCL is working on issuing the appointment dates, from which the counting of the time schedules of the packages starts.
The packages of the works are (i) Widening/improvement to four-lane with paved shoulder of Sagunbashi forest (near Nichinta) to starting of Krishnai Bypass Section of Bilasipura Guwahati road (NH 17) at a cost of Rs 135.89 crore, (ii) widening/improvement to four-lane with paved shoulder of (Paikan to Dhupdhara Sahar) of Bilasipura-Guwahati Road on NH-17 n EPC mode under Bharatmala Pariyojana in Economic Corridors under NH(O)-NE at a cost of Rs. 742 crore, (iii) widening/improvement to four-lane with paved shoulder of Bilasipura-Guwahati road on NH-17 (Section: Dhupdhara Sahar to Milmila Reserve Forest (before Chayagaon Market)) on EPC mode under Bharatmala Pariyojana in Economic Corridors NH(O)-NE at a cost of Rs. 458.47 crore, (iv) widening/improvement to four-lane with paved shoulder of Bilasipura-Guwahati road (NH 17) (Section: Milmila R.F (before Chayagaon Market) to approach of Airport Junction (VIP Chowk) on EPC mode under Bharatmala Pariyojana in Economic Corridors at a cost of Rs. 539.93 crore, (v) widening/improvement to four-lane with paved shoulders on the proposed Daboka Bypass of Daboka-Parokhaowa of NH-29 on EPC mode at a cost of Rs 229.82 crore, (vi) widening/ improvement to two-lane with paved shoulder (Golai Gaon) on the existing Dibrugarh to Ledo section with proposed Digboi Bypass (Green Field and Brownfield) of NH-315 in the Tinsukia district on EPC mode at a cost of Rs. 114.99 crore, (vii) widening/improvement to two-lane with paved shoulder (Golai Gaon) to (Ledo) on the existing Dibrugarh to Ledo section with proposed Margherita-Ledo Bypass (Greenfield) of NH-315 in the Tinsukia district on EPC mode under Bharatmala Pariyojana in Economic Corridors at a cost of Rs 272.77 crore, (viii) four-laning of Silchar-Dhanehari on Silchar-Vairengte-Sairang road on EPC mode at a cost of Rs 504.34 crore, (ix) four-laning of Dhanehari Lailapur/Vairengte section on Silchar-Vairengte Sairang road on EPC mode at a cost of Rs. 592.80 crore, (x) construction of four-lane Badarpur Bypass at crossing with NH-6 near Siddeswar Pt.-I Village to Kandigram Chaita Village on EPC Mode at a cost of Rs. 292.29 crore, (xi) widening and improvement to two-lane with paved shoulder configuration of Dudhnoi- Dainadubi section (NH-217) on EPC mode at the cost of Rs. 33.71 crore, (xii) widening and upgradation to two lanes with paved shoulders road from Tamenglong to Mahur (NH-137) starting from km 116.480 near Hangrum to km 136.500 near Hejaichak on EPC mode at a cost of Rs. 344.66 crore, (xiii) widening and upgradation to two lanes with paved shoulders road from Tamenglong to Mahur (NH-137) sarting from km 136.500 near Hejaichak to km 156.489 near P. Leikul on EPC mode at a cost of Rs. 344.66 crore, (xiv) widening and upgradation to two lanes with paved shoulders road from Tamenglong to Mahur (NH-137) starting from km 156.489 near P. Leikul to km 176.410 near Borowapu on EPC mode at a cost of Rs. 354.69 crore, (xv) widening/improvement to four-lane with paved shoulder from km 0+800 (Kandulijan Gaon) to km 27+701 (Simen Chapori) of NH-515 on EPC mode at a cost of Rs. 267.62 crore, (xvi) widening/improvement to four-lane with paved shoulder from km 27+701 (Simen Chapori) to km 55+000 (Nagabang Gamsuk) in the Dhemaji district on EPC mode at a cost of Rs. 249.40 crore, and (xvii) widening/improvement to four-lane with paved shoulder from km 55+000 (Nagabang Gamsuk) to km 82+514 (Oyan) in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on EPC mode at a cost of Rs. 266.24 crore.
The challenges before the NHIDCL and the contractors are the completion of the packages on time. The track record on the completion of NH packages in Assam has been very poor. Even some of the construction companies seldom make the roads under construction fit for vehicular traffic. Commuters continue to report the problems they face at a few stretches of the national highway under construction near Jorhat as the construction companies do not maintain the existing roads for smooth vehicular traffic. The State Government has to bear the responsibility of land acquisition and forest clearance when needed.
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