Assam earmarks Rs 150 crore to end Jorabat flash floods, four-lane alternative road planned

Days after a flash flood crippled traffic and inundated parts of Jorabat, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on July 15 announced a Rs 150-crore flood mitigation project under the proposed Guwahati Ring Road, saying the initiative is aimed at permanently addressing the area's recurring flooding.

Speaking during the Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Sarma said the recent flash flood highlighted the urgent need for long-term infrastructure solutions in Jorabat, a key entry point connecting Assam and Meghalaya.

"Day before yesterday we witnessed a violent flash flood in the Jorabat area. Under the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Guwahati Ring Road project, we have earmarked Rs 150 crore specifically to address the flash flood problem in Jorabat," the chief minister told the House.

He said consultants are currently preparing the engineering drawings for the flood mitigation works and have been instructed to obtain technical approval from IIT Guwahati before implementation.

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"I believe that once the Ring Road project begins, flash flood situations such as the one witnessed in Jorabat will be avoided," Sarma said.

The chief minister also acknowledged the chronic traffic congestion in Jorabat, describing it as a strategic junction linking Assam and Meghalaya where bottlenecks have become a routine occurrence.

To reduce traffic pressure on the existing corridor, Sarma announced that the government has proposed to upgrade the Digaru-Narangi road into a four-lane highway. The road will serve as an alternative route for commuters travelling from Jagiroad and adjoining areas towards Guwahati.

Seeking political support for the project, the chief minister appealed to the MLAs of Dimoria and Dispur constituencies to extend their cooperation in facilitating the proposed road expansion.

The announcements come as the state government steps up efforts to strengthen urban infrastructure and tackle recurring flooding in the Guwahati metropolitan region through integrated drainage and transport planning.