Assam's 414 km National Highway needs more lanes

In Assam, there are concerns about the condition of the National Highways (NH). Out of the total NH length of 4,077 km, only 14 km are more than four-lane, and 914 km are four-lane. Most NH stretches are only two-lane, with 414 km being less than two-lane and 2,735 km being two-lane. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) provided this information. From these statistics, it is evident that Assam still has significant road infrastructure challenges, particularly with its National Highways. Efforts are underway to improve the situation, with the National Highways Infrastructure and Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) are working on widening 975 km of NH to four lanes. This project is divided into 43 packages. However, progress on the Jorhat to Dibrugarh stretch has been slow, raising concerns. Currently, there are nine toll gates operational in Assam, established according to the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. These toll gates are located across various districts: Patgaon, Dahalpara, Galia, Madanpur, Nazirakhat, Raha, Mikirati-Hawgaon, Manderdisa, and Balachera. Among them, the Guwahati bypass road, a 14 km stretch, is undergoing development and is expected to be completed by the middle of this year under the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).