Silchar | Silchar Lok Sabha MP and senior BJP Assam leader Parimal Suklabaidya on Thursday met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi and sought approval for seven major road projects aimed at improving connectivity across the Barak Valley.

Suklabaidya submitted a proposal outlining the development and upgradation of key road corridors in and around the Silchar constituency, citing persistent congestion and the need for better connectivity to support healthcare, education, trade, agriculture and economic activity.

Among the projects proposed is the four-laning of around 22 km of State Highway-39 between Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) and Dwarbond Bazar. The MP also sought four-laning of a 7-km stretch of NH-306 between Rangirkhari Point and Sonabarighat, along with a 6-km stretch of NH-37 between Capital Point and Silchar ISBT.

Another major proposal is the construction of a 12.65-km greenfield bypass linking Silchar Annapurna Bridge with NH-27 at Dolu Bazar. The proposed bypass is intended to divert heavy freight traffic away from Silchar town and ease pressure on existing urban roads.

The other projects include four-laning of the 28.5-km SH-38 stretch between E&D Colony and Kalain, widening of a 13-km NH-37 section along the Kashipur route and upgrading a 12-km NH-37 stretch along the Rongpur route.

According to the MP, the proposed infrastructure projects would help reduce congestion, improve road safety and facilitate the movement of ambulances, students, farmers, traders, commuters and essential goods.

Suklabaidya also raised the status of road proposals that received “in-principle” approval for National Highway development during 2017-18. He urged Gadkari to expedite the formal approvals and sanctions required to take the projects forward.

Gadkari heard the issues raised by the MP and acknowledged the connectivity challenges facing the Barak Valley. He assured Suklabaidya that the Ministry would examine and prioritise roads that had previously received in-principle approval for National Highway status and work towards expediting the necessary processes.

The Union minister also assured the MP that issues relating to the repair and improvement of critical State Highways in the Barak Valley would be communicated to the Assam government for appropriate action.

Suklabaidya later thanked Gadkari for considering the region’s infrastructure requirements, saying improved road connectivity would be crucial to unlocking the economic potential of the Barak Valley and strengthening its links with neighbouring states.

If approved and implemented, the proposed projects could address several major connectivity bottlenecks around Silchar while improving access to key healthcare, educational, commercial and agricultural centres across the region.