Silchar: Under the leadership of Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Barak Valley is witnessing a rapid transformation in roads, elevated corridors, and bridges. “Roads are the arteries of progress. For Barak Valley’s socio-economic growth, strong connectivity is not optional—it is essential,” said Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Mines and Minerals, and Barak Valley Development Kaushik Rai on Friday, while chairing a high-level review meeting in Silchar aimed at accelerating the region’s infrastructure development.

The meeting, held at the District Commissioner’s new conference hall, brought together senior officials, engineers, and representatives from Cachar, Sribhumi, and Hailakandi districts. Minister Rai highlighted the State Government’s commitment to turning Barak Valley into a hub of connectivity and opportunity, driven by the Chief Minister’s vision.

Minister Rai stressed the need to move beyond procedural delays, urging all departments to deliver projects within set timelines. In a firm directive to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), he called for the completion of the critical Kashipur road before March 2026, citing its importance in easing urban congestion and linking Silchar’s central and peripheral areas.

The review also assessed progress on major projects including the Barapani-Panchgram Expressway, Silchar-Churaibari, Silchar-Vairengte, Silchar-Jiribam, Pailapool-Hangrum, Silchar Bypass, and Capital Point stretches.

Minister Rai directed immediate repair work on the Capital Point to Sonai Road to improve intra-city traffic and urged NHIDCL to expedite the Pailapool-Hangrum road project, a vital corridor connecting Barak Valley with Dima Hasao and other hill districts.

Highlighting common causes of delays—land acquisition disputes, drainage issues, and material transport challenges—Minister Rai called for a mission-mode approach to resolve bottlenecks quickly. “We cannot afford complacency.

The people of Barak Valley deserve modern infrastructure, and every project under Bharatmala and NHIDCL must show tangible progress,” he said.

While acknowledging ongoing efforts by NHIDCL and local authorities, Minister Rai reaffirmed expectations for quality, sustainability, and accountability. He described Barak Valley as a model for transformative governance, where hands-on monitoring and administrative support ensure projects are completed efficiently.

The meeting included Cachar DC Mridul Yadav, Sribhumi DC Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi, Hailakandi DC Abhishek, MLAs Mihir Kanti Shome, Nihar Ranjan Das, Karim Uddin Barbhuiya, Misbahul Islam Laskar, Khalil Uddin Mazumdar, Additional SP Subrata Sen, DFO Cachar Palwe Vijay Trimbak, Silchar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Srishti Singh, NHIDCL Executive Director Riten Kumar Singh, General Managers Pranjal Buragohain and Gauranga Deoghare, NHIDCL Manager Gaurav Agarwal, and representatives of contractors and engineers.

Minister Rai concluded, “Barak Valley is moving forward with purpose, efficiency, and pride. With the Chief Minister’s proactive approach, we are turning developmental aspirations into concrete results.”