Progress of ASTC projects slow; BTC yet to provide land for ISBT project at Kokrajhar

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The work of one of the three ISBT (Inter-State Bus Terminus) projects as promised in the 2017-18 Budget is yet to be started. The other two are also progressing at a slow pace.

In his Budget speech in 2017-18, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Our government has decided to set up a mini ISBT at Khanapara for the benefit of the passengers travelling to Upper Assam. Two more ISBTs – one at Tezpur and the other at Kokrajhar will also be set up." This reporter, who contacted the ASTC (Assam State Transport Corporation) officials, came to know that only 40 per cent work of the mini-ISBT at Khanapara and 32 per cent work of the one at Tezpur is over. However, because of land problems, the work of the ISBT at Kokrajhar has not been started as yet.

The estimated cost of the mini-ISBT at Khanapara was Rs 9.82 crore that escalated to Rs 12 crore now. The work was stated on August 22, 2017. The scheduled date of completion of this project is November 26, 2022.

An ASTC official said, "The mini-ISBT is being erected on a five-bigha plot near NH-37 (Koina-Dhora). The construction work came to a grinding halt during the Corona-induced lockdown. However, the work has been resumed now. We hope to meet the target schedule.

"The Rs 28.63-crore ISBT at Tezpur is being set up on a 22-bigha plot. The work began on August 28, 2018, and it is scheduled to be completed on August 27, 2021. The physical progress of this project is 32 per cent. Despite the delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we're doing our best to meet target schedule.

"The ISBT project at Kokrajhar has not been started as the BTC (Bodoland Territorial Council) administration has not provided us 27 bighas of land sought for the purpose. We've written to the State government to this effect."

Two other projects – development of the station building at Majuli and DTO-cum-RTA (Regional Transport Authority) Secretary office at Nagaon – has also been running behind the schedule. Around 90 per cent work of the Rs 94-lakh Majuli station building is over. It began on November 12, 2017 and was scheduled to be completed on August 18, 2018. Likewise, the Rs 1.85-crore construction project of DTO-cum-RTA Secretary office at Dimaruguri in Nagaon was started on November 1, 2017 with a target schedule of October 6, 2019. Only 31 per cent work of this project is over. However, the official failed to give any tangible reason for the delay of the project.

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