Guwahati, 27 July (HS): The proposed Srirampur–Udaipur–Daibuti India-Bhutan Border Road project in Assam has remained stalled after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) rejected all alignment proposals submitted by the state government, the Assam Assembly was informed on Monday.

Replying to a written question by MLA Maneswar Brahma during the Budget Session, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also holds the Public Works Department (PWD) portfolio, said the state had initiated preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and appointed Mumbai-based Wadia Techno Engineering Services Ltd. as the project consultant in 2017.

The Chief Minister said that before submitting multiple feasible alignments to the MHA, the state had completed an aerial LiDAR survey and held consultations with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and other concerned agencies.

However, the MHA rejected all the proposed alignments. With no agreement reached on the route for nearly four years, the project was eventually put on hold. Work was discontinued on July 31, 2020, and the unspent sanctioned funds were returned to the MHA in June 2022.

On whether the project would be revived, the Chief Minister said the decision now rests with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

The proposed border road was aimed at strengthening connectivity, promoting socio-economic development and enhancing security along the India-Bhutan border in Assam.------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash