Cabinet Clears Rs 69.6 Billion NH Project Through Kaziranga

07 Oct 2025 CW Team

Announcing the decision, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the project spans 86 kilometres and involves a 34-kilometre elevated viaduct to ensure safe passage for wildlife. “The fifth major decision of the Cabinet today is the four-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715 (86 km, Rs 69.6 billion). It includes a 34 km elevated viaduct passing through Kaziranga National Park,” Vaishnaw said.

He explained that during the monsoon season, wild animals including rhinoceroses move towards higher ground and often cross the existing road, leading to fatal accidents. The elevated highway, therefore, aims to mitigate animal fatalities while improving connectivity.

According to an official statement, the project will upgrade the existing two-lane road to a four-lane highway, spanning 85.67 kilometres across Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, and Golaghat districts. It will feature wildlife crossings, underpasses, and eco-sensitive design elements to ensure biodiversity protection in and around Kaziranga.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Cabinet for approving the project. “My gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Cabinet for approving the Rs 69.6 billion widening of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715. The 34 km elevated corridor will ease traffic and safeguard our wildlife. This project represents a new model for human-animal coexistence,” Sarma stated.

In a related development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first second-generation bioethanol plant at the Numaligarh Refinery in Assam on 14 September. Built at a cost of Rs 50 billion, the bamboo-based refinery is the first of its kind globally.

The Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone of the refinery on 9 February 2019. The project holds special significance for Assam and the North East, where bamboo grows abundantly. India’s ethanol blending rate has risen from 1.53 per cent in 2014 to 10 per cent by 2022, ahead of schedule, and the 20 per cent blending target (E20) originally set for 2030 was advanced to 2025, already achieved in the current ethanol supply year.

Together, these initiatives reflect India’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and biodiversity protection.

The Union Cabinet has approved the four-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of National Highway 715 in Assam, a key infrastructure project designed to prevent man-animal conflicts and enhance road safety through the Kaziranga National Park.Announcing the decision, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the project spans 86 kilometres and involves a 34-kilometre elevated viaduct to ensure safe passage for wildlife. “The fifth major decision of the Cabinet today is the four-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715 (86 km, Rs 69.6 billion). It includes a 34 km elevated viaduct passing through Kaziranga National Park,” Vaishnaw said.He explained that during the monsoon season, wild animals including rhinoceroses move towards higher ground and often cross the existing road, leading to fatal accidents. The elevated highway, therefore, aims to mitigate animal fatalities while improving connectivity.According to an official statement, the project will upgrade the existing two-lane road to a four-lane highway, spanning 85.67 kilometres across Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, and Golaghat districts. It will feature wildlife crossings, underpasses, and eco-sensitive design elements to ensure biodiversity protection in and around Kaziranga.Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Cabinet for approving the project. “My gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Cabinet for approving the Rs 69.6 billion widening of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715. The 34 km elevated corridor will ease traffic and safeguard our wildlife. This project represents a new model for human-animal coexistence,” Sarma stated.In a related development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first second-generation bioethanol plant at the Numaligarh Refinery in Assam on 14 September. Built at a cost of Rs 50 billion, the bamboo-based refinery is the first of its kind globally.The Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone of the refinery on 9 February 2019. The project holds special significance for Assam and the North East, where bamboo grows abundantly. India’s ethanol blending rate has risen from 1.53 per cent in 2014 to 10 per cent by 2022, ahead of schedule, and the 20 per cent blending target (E20) originally set for 2030 was advanced to 2025, already achieved in the current ethanol supply year.Together, these initiatives reflect India’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and biodiversity protection.

Infrastructure Urban

07 Nov 2025

Welspun Enterprises Wins 910 MLD Panjrapur WTP Contract

Welspun Enterprises (WEL), the infrastructure and energy arm of Welspun World, has secured a major contract from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to design, build and operate a 910 million litres per day (MLD) Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at Panjrapur, Maharashtra.Valued at approximately Rs 31.45 billion, the project encompasses end-to-end civil, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation works, including the construction of a treated water sump and pumping station. Of the total value, nearly Rs 11.56 billion is allocated to Operations & Maintenance (O&M), with an additional..

Infrastructure Energy

07 Nov 2025

Mitsubishi Power Wins Boiler Upgrade Contract for O Mon 1 Plant

Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, (MHI), has been awarded a contract to support the oil-to-natural-gas fuel conversion at the O Mon 1 Thermal Power Plant in Can Tho, southern Vietnam. As the OEM of the plant’s existing boiler, Mitsubishi Power will supply key equipment—including new gas burners—and implement a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to reduce NOx emissions and help the plant meet stricter environmental standards.The O Mon 1 facility includes two 330 MW units that commenced operations in 2009 and 2015, with all major equipment or..

Equipment

07 Nov 2025

Liebherr’s 10,000th XPower Wheel Loader Joins BERGER’s Fleet

BERGER Rohstoffe GmbH has welcomed the 10,000th Liebherr XPower wheel loader to its operations at the Schlag granite quarry in Passau. The milestone machine, officially handed over at Liebherr’s Bischofshofen plant in May 2025, underscores the long-standing partnership between BERGER, Liebherr, and the Beutlhauser Group. Equipped with Liebherr’s signature power-split travel drive, the new L 580 XPower is already delivering strong results under demanding quarry conditions.At the Schlag quarry, BERGER Rohstoffe processes approximately 200,000 tonnes of Bayerwald granite annually into high-qu..