Guwahati : Assam is set to witness a major boost to connectivity and infrastructure during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed two-day visit beginning January 17, with the launch of three new train services and the foundation stone laying of a Rs 6,957-crore elevated corridor through Kaziranga National Park.

Briefing the media after a Cabinet meeting in Guwahati on Friday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the council of ministers discussed the Prime Minister’s visit and itinerary “at length”, describing it as a blend of cultural celebration and landmark infrastructure initiatives.

According to Sarma, the Prime Minister is expected to arrive in Guwahati on the evening of January 17 and attend a mega Bagurumba dance performance at Sarusajai Stadium, featuring between 8,000 and 10,000 artistes. Modi will stay overnight at State Guest House No. 1 before travelling to Kaliabor in Nagaon district the following day to address a public rally at Mouchanda field.

A central highlight of the visit will be the foundation-laying ceremony for a 34.5-km elevated corridor from Kaliabor to Bokakhat, cutting across the Kaziranga landscape. Sarma said the Union Cabinet has approved an outlay of Rs 6,957 crore for the project, calling it the biggest infrastructure investment in Assam to date.

Land acquisition for the corridor has already been completed by the state government, while the tendering process by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is in its final stages, the Chief Minister said. Once completed, the elevated road is expected to significantly reduce wildlife fatalities caused by vehicular movement, especially during the annual floods when animals cross highways in search of higher ground.

The corridor is also expected to dramatically improve travel time between Guwahati and Upper Assam. “At present, it takes around one hour and 15 minutes to cross the Kaziranga stretch due to speed restrictions. With the elevated corridor, this distance can be covered in just 20 minutes,” Sarma said. He added that the existing road through the national park will continue to remain open, giving commuters a choice of routes.

On the connectivity front, Sarma said the Prime Minister will flag off two new train services from Kaliabor – one connecting Dibrugarh and Gomti, and another between Guwahati and Rohtak. In addition, Modi will also flag off the first Vande Bharat sleeper train between Kolkata and Guwahati from a neighbouring state on January 17. “Effectively, Assam will be getting three new train services in two days,” the Chief Minister said.

Apart from infrastructure announcements, the Cabinet also cleared several administrative decisions. Sarma said one bigha of land in Guwahati has been allotted to the Bodo Sahitya Sabha for a multi-purpose project. The Cabinet also approved land allotments for several beneficiaries under Mission Basundhara 2.0.

The visit, Sarma said, underlines the Centre’s focus on accelerating infrastructure development, cultural outreach and connectivity in Assam and the wider Northeast.

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