Assam govt shifts Silchar's Capital Point–Rongirkhari road project from NHIDCL to PWD

The Assam government has decided to transfer the reconstruction of the Capital Point–Rongirkhari road in Silchar from the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to the state Public Works Department (PWD), in a move aimed at expediting the long-pending project.
 

The decision was announced on Thursday, July 16, after a review meeting chaired by Assam ministers Krishnendu Paul and Kaushik Rai at the conference hall of the Cachar Deputy Commissioner's office. Officials from the district administration, NHIDCL, PWD, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, the Silchar Municipal Corporation and other concerned departments attended the meeting.
 

Speaking to reporters, Krishnendu Paul said the decision was taken on the directions of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to ensure that the road is reconstructed as per government standards.
 

He said the PWD will prepare a fresh cost estimate for the project and, after completing all administrative formalities, will remove the damaged top layer of the existing road and construct a new bituminous surface.
 

The minister said the road's condition had worsened due to heavy rainfall, the ongoing four-lane highway construction and excavation work for bridge pillars. He added that the departments concerned have been instructed to begin reconstruction work immediately after the monsoon season.
 

Kaushik Rai said NHIDCL had come under public criticism over the deteriorating condition of the road in recent months. While temporary measures such as the installation of concrete blocks were undertaken, they did not provide a permanent solution, he said.
 

To prevent further damage, the ministers also announced that heavy vehicles will soon be prohibited from plying on the Capital Point–Rongirkhari stretch. Such vehicles will be diverted to an alternative bypass route until the reconstruction is completed.
 

The Capital Point–Rongirkhari road is a key arterial route in Silchar, and its poor condition has caused inconvenience to commuters and residents for a prolonged period. The government said the transfer of the project to the PWD is expected to facilitate faster execution and provide safer, more durable road connectivity.