Guwahati, Jan 10: A high-level review meeting was convened on January 10 to take stock of preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Kaliabor in Assam on January 18, with officials closely examining logistical and administrative arrangements for the major public programme planned on the occasion. The meeting focused on ensuring seamless coordination among departments for the smooth conduct of the event.
During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor, a landmark infrastructure project estimated at Rs 6,957 crore. The project will be executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Officials said the foundation stone ceremony will be followed by an audio-visual presentation highlighting the key technical and environmental features of the project.
The Kaziranga Elevated Corridor forms a crucial part of the four-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh stretch of National Highway-37, now renumbered as NH-715. Spanning approximately 34.45 kilometres, the project includes long stretches of elevated, wildlife-sensitive corridors along with bypasses at Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat. Designed in line with court directives and recommendations of the Wildlife Institute of India, the corridor aims to enhance connectivity between Central and Upper Assam while safeguarding the fragile ecosystem of Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The construction period for the project has been fixed at 36 months.
In addition to the highway project, the Prime Minister will virtually flag off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting Dibrugarh with Gomti Nagar in Lucknow and Kamakhya with Rohtak. Officials said these train services are expected to strengthen long-distance rail connectivity between Assam and key states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana, while offering improved travel time and modern passenger facilities.
The review meeting emphasised the need for meticulous planning and close inter-departmental coordination to ensure that all aspects of the programme are executed efficiently and in line with established protocols, reflecting the significance of the Prime Minister’s visit and the projects being launched.
