Guwahati: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has hailed the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for approving a ₹6,957 crore project to widen and modernise the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715 in Assam.
The landmark project’s highlight is a 34.5 km elevated corridor through Kaziranga National Park (KNP), designed to ensure safe and uninterrupted wildlife movement while vastly improving connectivity across the state.
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Calling it a “historic day for Assam and a giant leap for India’s sustainable development,” Sonowal said the project represents a balance between progress and conservation. “This is a promise to protect our natural heritage while building a brighter future for our people,” he said.
Currently a 2-lane stretch prone to seasonal flooding and wildlife accidents, the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section (formerly NH-37) will be upgraded to include: 34.5 km elevated corridor through KNP, 30.22 km upgraded highway and 21 km of greenfield bypasses to decongest Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat.
The plan is expected to reduce travel time, promote eco-tourism, facilitate pilgrim routes, and open new avenues for trade and industry. It will also integrate with NH-127, NH-129, SH-35, and link to three airports (Tezpur, Lilabari, Jorhat) and three railway stations (Nagaon, Jakhalabandha, Vishwanath Chariali), enhancing Assam’s logistics and mobility network.
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The development is projected to create 15.42 lakh person-days of direct employment and 19.19 lakh person-days of indirect jobs, strengthening Assam’s socio-economic base.
Sonowal emphasised that the highway embodies Prime Minister Modi’s vision where “progress and nature, economy and ecology, go hand-in-hand.” He said the people of Assam would remember it as a transformative milestone that secures both growth and conservation.
