Guwahati: Adding another major milestone to Assam’s transport infrastructure, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday formally inaugurated the newly constructed Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Flyover at Lalganesh in Guwahati.
Constructed at a cost of Rs. 376 crore, the flyover has been completed in 26 months, ahead of the stipulated timeline of 30 months. The project stretches from the Cycle Factory junction on the Guwahati-Garbhanga Road to Lalganesh and is expected to significantly improve connectivity and traffic movement in the south-western part of Guwahati.
Addressing his first public programme after assuming office as Chief Minister for a second term, Dr. Sarma described the inauguration as a major step in the government’s mission to accelerate Assam’s development journey. He stated that the flyover would help make Guwahati’s traffic system more dynamic, disciplined and modern.
The approximately 2.8-kilometre-long flyover is expected to ensure smoother and uninterrupted vehicular movement from Arya Nagar to the Lakhra stretch of National Highway 27. The Chief Minister said the project would particularly benefit thousands of commuters travelling daily for medical treatment, education and employment.
Dr. Sarma noted that easier connectivity would now be available to important institutions including Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Pragjyotishpur Medical College, the Integrated Directorate Complex at Betkuchi and the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
Apart from the main three-lane flyover, the project also includes 6-metre-wide service roads on both sides and 2-metre-wide RCC drainage systems to streamline local traffic and improve water flow management.
The Chief Minister further announced that a 320-metre-long connecting road towards Barsapara Cricket Stadium would be constructed in the future to provide direct access to the stadium through the flyover. Provision has also been kept for a 330-metre-long intermediate road near the Cycle Factory side to handle future traffic pressure.
The flyover has been named after Syama Prasad Mookerjee. During his speech, the Chief Minister highlighted Dr. Mookerjee’s contributions towards Assam’s educational, cultural and political history. He recalled the role played by Dr. Mookerjee and his father Ashutosh Mukherjee in promoting Assamese language and higher education during the pre-independence period.
Dr. Sarma also spoke about Dr. Mookerjee’s support for Assam during the Partition era and his role in strengthening the position of Gopinath Bordoloi during politically sensitive periods in the 1940s.
The Chief Minister said dedicating the flyover in the name of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was a matter of pride for Assam, considering his contributions towards the state’s educational and political development.
Referring to ongoing infrastructure development in Guwahati, Dr. Sarma mentioned several major projects completed during the government’s previous tenure, including the flyovers at Supermarket, Arya Nagar, Maligaon, Bharalumukh, Panbazar and Noonmati. He stated that with the inauguration of the Lalganesh flyover, all major flyover projects currently being executed by the Public Works Department in Guwahati have now been completed.
Among others present at the inauguration programme were Member of Parliament Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MLAs Pradyut Bordoloi, Bijoy Kumar Gupta, Diplu Ranjan Sarma and Tapan Das, along with Mrigen Sarania and senior government officials.
