Inland Waterways Authority of India Director responds to memorandum

DHUBRI : Director of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) responded to the memorandum to Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal submitted by Dhubri District BJP president, Prosenjit Dutta demanding an alternative road connecting from Dhubri Phulbari bridge to Beparipatty of Gauripur town encircling the Dhubri town with an embankment for the protection of Dhubri town.

The demand for an alternative road has been raised for a long time after construction of Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge commenced.

The entry roads to Dhubri River Port are narrow and highly congested due to huge traffic movement. Traders of Bhutan, Bangladesh and India during EXIM met here on June 12 this year wherein Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was present. They raised some demands including construction of alternative road from Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge to Dhubri River Port to ease the movement of goods from Bhutan.

In the letter, IWAI Director A Solvakumar said that IWAI had taken up the matter with National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) and a MoU was signed on 25.02.2021.

IWAI requested NHIDCL twice to intimate the possibility of connecting Dhubri terminal with proposed approach road of new Dhubri-Phulbari, bridge, which is being constructed by NHIDCL at Dhubri over river Brahmaputra, Director stated.

He further said that IWAI also twice requested PWD ( Roads), Assam to give their consent along with terms of reference for taking up the work of construction of an alternative road connecting Dhubri terminal with nearest National Highway for the development in the State of Assam.

In the letter, the director assured that as soon as office receives the letter of consent from NHIDCL and PWD (Roads), Assam, the matter would be taken up with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways for approval and to the execute the alternative road construction work at the earliest.

Talking to The Sentinel, Dhubri District BJP President, Prosenjit Dutta said that it was a positive and welcome move by the IWAI towards construction of alternative roads.

Dutta also informed that besides these, enhancement capacity of weigh bridge, installation goods carrying conveyor, exploring business 24X7 for swift movement of heavy vehicles, dredging for smooth passage of vessels round the year are also being considered.

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