Two stretches of NH in Assam entrusted to NHIDCL: Nitin Gadkari

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: The two stretches of National Highways (NHs) from Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali and from Gohpur to North Lakhimpur have recently been entrusted to National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). Following this, a firm has been engaged for carrying out the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of 4-laning of the section from Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali.

As for the stretch from Gohpur to North Lakhimpur, bids have also been invited for engaging project management consultancy firms in this stretch, wherein bids have already been received and are under evaluation.

This information was revealed by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Jairam Gadkari, in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, in response to an unstarred question by Assam MP Ranjit Dutta.

Currently, the stretches from Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali, Tezpur, and from Gohpur to North Lakhimpur are two-lane NHs. The stretch from Dolabari near Tezpur to Gohpur has already been converted to a four-lane NH.

Regarding this, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari stated in the Lok Sabha, "The stretches of the National Highway from Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali and from Gohpur to North Lakhimpur in Assam have recently been entrusted to NHIDCL as per the Gazette of India Notification dated May 30, 2025. However, these stretches are yet to be physically handed over by the State Public Works Department to NHIDCL."

"The State PWD has reported that the stretch from Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali had developed potholes at several locations, which were rectified through a Short-Term Maintenance Contract (STMC) carried out during 2024-25. As regards the stretch from Gohpur to North Lakhimpur, potholes had developed due to severe rainfall and landslides at various locations during the 2024 monsoon. These stretches were not under DLP (Defect Liability Period) at the time. To address these issues, two maintenance works under Performance-Based Maintenance Contract (PBMC) mode have been sanctioned, and the works were allotted on December 18, 2024, and June 17, 2025, respectively, which will ensure maintenance of these road stretches for the next five years," he further said.

Gadkari also elaborated that a Project Management Consultancy (PMC) firm has been engaged for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of 4-laning of the section from Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali. Further, bids have also been invited for engaging Project Management Consultancy (PMC) in the stretch from Gohpur to Lakhimpur, wherein bids have been received and are under evaluation.

Moreover, the Union Minister stated, "The government has prioritized the maintenance of the National Highway (NH) network and has evolved a mechanism to ensure Maintenance and Repair (M&R) of all NH sections through an accountable maintenance agency."

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