Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday gave a big gift to the Northeast including Assam. He inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 26 National Highway projects with an investment of over Rs 17,500 crore in Guwahati. Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways General VK Singh, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, state cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs and NHIDCL officials were also present on the occasion.

During this, the Union Minister said, the objective of the Dibrugarh-Tinsukia-Ledo project is to increase interstate connectivity between Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, boost strategic presence and promote trade and tourism. The Silchar to Lailapur section will connect Barak Valley to Mizoram, thereby promoting socio-economic development. NH-515 in Dhemaji district will improve connectivity between northern Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

NH-37 will increase connectivity in Dima Hasao region and provide an alternative route to western Manipur, he said. The Paikan to Guwahati airport section will facilitate a multi-modal logistics park at Jogighopa. Additionally, the construction of new bridges will reduce congestion and enhance trade, tourism and socio-economic progress in the region.

On this occasion, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma demanded the Union Minister to build an elevated road for Kaziranga National Park. So that animals can be saved from accidents there. Along with this, he also demanded to build a ring road for Guwahati. He also demanded construction of a tunnel from Numligarh to Gahpur to connect North and South Assam.