Silchar: The Barak Democratic Front (BDF) has congratulated newly inducted Assam ministers Kaushik Rai and Krishnendu Paul and urged them to prioritize the resolution of key issues affecting the Barak Valley, including waterlogging, deteriorating roads, traffic congestion and stalled development projects.

In a press statement, BDF Media Cell Convener Jaydeep Bhattacharjee said that while there has been some debate over the absence of a Bengali representative from the Brahmaputra Valley and the exclusion of Silchar’s MLA from the state cabinet, the focus should now shift towards securing development for the Barak Valley.

Highlighting the recent spell of heavy rainfall, Bhattacharjee said artificial flooding caused by severe waterlogging and the poor condition of roads have pushed public suffering to alarming levels. He urged the newly elected ministers to ensure that ongoing drainage improvement works in Silchar and Karimganj are completed efficiently and without delay.

He also expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the road connecting Capital Point and Silchar Medical College, stating that poor-quality construction carried out in the past without adherence to prescribed standards has left commuters and patients facing serious difficulties.

According to him, immediate measures are needed to keep the road usable during the monsoon season, while long-term plans should be made to secure funding for its complete reconstruction following all technical norms and guidelines.

Bhattacharjee further suggested that ministers engage with citizens’ groups and stakeholders to make the reconstruction process transparent and people-oriented, thereby strengthening public confidence in government initiatives.

BDF Convener Hrishikesh De drew attention to the proposed flyover project in Silchar, whose foundation stone was laid by the Prime Minister before the Assembly elections. He said the project appears to have lost momentum amid the election process despite worsening traffic congestion in the town.

“During peak hours, commuters often spend one-and-a-half to two hours covering a distance of just ten kilometres,” he said, urging the newly elected ministers and MLAs to take immediate steps to begin construction of the flyover.

De also called for the speedy implementation of the proposed industrial hub on the abandoned Panchgram Paper Mill land. Referring to the government’s earlier announcement and commitments made during the election campaign, he said land-related issues have reportedly stalled the proposed MSME Training Centre at the site.

He stressed that a full-fledged industrial and commercial hub equipped with modern facilities is essential for attracting investment and creating industrial growth opportunities in the Barak Valley. The BDF urged the Cachar district’s Guardian Minister and local legislators to take immediate action to move the project forward.

The organization further called upon the valley’s elected representatives to actively pursue several long-pending development projects, including the proposed Greenfield Airport, High-Speed Express Corridor, Chandranathpur-Lanka railway line, Multimodal Logistics Park, and modernization of Silchar Medical College.

The BDF also demanded collective efforts to secure official recognition for the Barak Valley Language Martyrs and the naming of a railway station in their honour.

Stating that Barak Valley has faced decades of neglect, BDF leaders said the newly elected ministers and MLAs now have an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy through meaningful development initiatives.

They asserted that effective use of this opportunity would earn public appreciation and historical recognition, while failure to deliver could lead to the same fate as many former representatives who failed to meet public expectations.

The statement was issued on behalf of the organization by BDF Convener Debayan Deb.