Assam Mala road project, Bharatmala Pariyojana Assam Review Meeting at Sribhumi: Assam’s Road Transformation Momentum
On the instruction of Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, a high-level review meeting was convened at the & Krishnendu Paul & District Commissioner’s Conference Hall, Sribhumi, to assess the ongoing Bharatmala and Assam Mala projects. Senior officials from NHIDCL, Assam PWD, and project contractors participated to evaluate construction progress and identify on-ground challenges.
The discussion primarily focused on accelerating the pace of works across major corridors while ensuring fair compensation for affected families whose agricultural lands or houses were impacted during the expansion. The Chief Minister reiterated that transparent rehabilitation and full payment of dues remain a top government priority.
Both Bharatmala Pariyojana—a flagship national highway initiative—and Assam Mala—the state’s long-term highway modernization program—are crucial for achieving Assam Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The review emphasized synergy between state and central agencies to realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of robust national connectivity and balanced regional development.
This meeting underscored how Assam’s infrastructure drive aims to link rural clusters, improve logistics efficiency, and attract investments through safer, climate-resilient roads.
Understanding Assam Mala: Vision, Coverage, and Financing
The Assam Mala (Asom Mala) program covers approximately 1,296 km across 31 priority state highways and major district roads within 27 districts, forming the backbone of Assam’s regional mobility strategy. The scheme integrates sustainability, safety, and economic accessibility while enhancing rural connectivity.
Financing stems from diverse sources—State Government funds, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and NABARD, alongside possible Public-Private Partnership (PPP) participation. Key sub-projects such as the Assam Road Network Improvement Project (ARNIP) and Assam Secondary Road Improvement Project (ASRIP) receive multilateral assistance.
Priority corridors connect major commercial and agricultural districts like Kamrup, Nagaon, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Morigaon, Jorhat, Karimganj, and Cachar, improving access to industrial zones, tourist circuits, and border trade points.
By enabling two-lane standards, improved road safety measures, and climate resilience, Assam Mala directly supports the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) corridors—strengthening trade integration with neighboring regions.
Bharatmala Pariyojana: National Integration with Local Impact
Approved in 2017 with a national outlay of ₹5.35 lakh crore for 34,800 km of highways, Bharatmala Pariyojana is India’s most ambitious connectivity mission. Within Assam, approximately 512 km of highways have been awarded under Bharatmala, carrying a sanctioned investment exceeding ₹15,500 crore, including ₹5,777.95 crore for 229.48 km of new four-lane roads.
Assam’s Bharatmala corridors—Srirampur–Silchar, Ramnagar–Churaibari, Bilasipara–Jogighopa–Guwahati—are transforming trade logistics by connecting the Brahmaputra Valley, Barak Valley, and adjoining Northeast corridors. Implementation is led by NHIDCL with technical collaboration from PWD Assam.
The synergy between Bharatmala and Assam Mala ensures that both national and state highways are modernized under a common framework—integrating last-mile connectivity, reducing travel times, and enhancing cross-border commerce.
These infrastructure investments are designed not merely for transport efficiency but also for inclusive growth, bringing livelihood opportunities, tourism potential, and socio-economic upliftment to Assam’s semi-urban and rural districts
Economic Outlook, Compensation, and Future Roadmap
The combined Assam Mala and Bharatmala initiatives represent transformative capital inflows into Assam’s economy, projected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs across construction, materials, logistics, and maintenance sectors.
Estimated total investment inflow in 2025 for both projects in Assam is valued at ₹17,000 – ₹20,000 crore, distributed as follows:
| Segment | Estimated 2025 Budget (₹ Crore) | Funding Source |
|---|---|---|
| Assam Mala (ARNIP + ASRIP) | 7,200 | ADB + AIIB + State Govt |
| Bharatmala Corridors | 9,800 | NHIDCL + MoRTH |
| Land Compensation & Relocation | 1,500 | State Treasury + NABARD |
| Skill & Safety Training Programs | 200 | PPP Partners & CSR |
Beyond physical assets, the government has pledged full rehabilitation support for families whose land or homes fall within project alignment. Digital monitoring and grievance redressal mechanisms are being integrated via Assam PWD’s e-Governance dashboard for real-time transparency.
Chief Minister Sarma emphasized that by 2030, Assam aims to achieve state-wide two-lane connectivity, improved flood-resilient bridges, and a logistics network linking its riverine and hilly districts—ushering in a new era of sustainable growth, economic equity, and regional pride.
Assam’s “Asom Mala” & Bharatmala (Assam) Projects Sources Table (Verification & Publication)
| Item | Description | Available Data & Source |
|---|---|---|
| Project Name | Asom Mala (also “Assam Mala”) – state-roads, major district roads improvement + national corridor links; and Bharatmala Pariyojana (Assam portion) – central national highway up-gradation. | Asom Mala: ADB docs. (Asian Development Bank) Bharatmala Assam: Lok Sabha reply. (Digital Sansad) |
| Sanctioned / Approved Length (Priority Sections) | Asom Mala: ~1,296 km across 31 priority sections. (Asian Development Bank) For one sub-component (ADB) ~313 km across 9 districts. (Asian Development Bank) Bharatmala Assam: 229.48 km across 8 four-laning projects. (Digital Sansad) | |
| Sanctioned Cost / Budget (State/National) | Bharatmala Assam: Rs 5,777.95 crore (for the 229.48 km) as sanctioned cost. (Digital Sansad) Asom Mala: ADB/PIB note a USD 300 million loan (Jan 2023) for ~300 km of roads under Asom Mala. (Press Information Bureau) | |
| Implementation / Funding Agencies | Asom Mala: State Government of Assam, with external assistance from ADB/AIIB etc. (Asian Development Bank) Bharatmala Assam: Central Government (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways), implemented via NHIDCL/EPC contractors. (Digital Sansad) | |
| Start / End Sections (Selected) | Example from Bharatmala Assam: “4-Laning of Jhanjhi Junction to Demow section (Km 491.050 to Km 535.250) – 44.08 km” etc. (from Lok Sabha annex) (Digital Sansad) Asom Mala docs mention sections in Western, Central & Southern Assam linking to SASEC corridors. (Press Information Bureau) | |
| Current Physical Progress / Completed Length | Precise total completed length for these programs in Assam not fully disclosed in publicly summarised sources. E.g., Bharatmala national figure: 18,714 km constructed under Bharatmala scheme (all-India) as of Oct 31, 2024. (Bharat Express) For Assam-specific packages, details are in annexes but aggregated “completed km” in Assam alone not clearly in the given source. | |
| Compensation / Resettlement / Social Safeguards | Asom Mala/ADB docs include Resettlement Plan frameworks for Assam’s road upgrades—e.g., ADB “Resettlement Plan – Project Road A2 (313 km in 9 districts)”. (Asian Development Bank) | |
| Additional Loans / Recent Approvals | On January 3, 2023, ADB & Government of India signed a USD 300 million loan agreement to upgrade over 300 km state highways and MDRs in Assam under Asom Mala. (Press Information Bureau) |
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