Indo-Bhutan Border Road Project Stalled Over Alignment Dispute

31 Jul 2026 CW Team

The Assam government informed the Legislative Assembly on July 27 that the proposed Saralpara–Srirampur–Udaipur–Daibuti Indo-Bhutan border road project remains stalled after the Ministry of Home Affairs rejected all state-submitted alignments. The project was intended to improve connectivity, socio-economic development and border security along the Indo-Bhutan border in Assam. The reply came to Assembly Question No. 378 and was delivered by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also holds the Public Works Department portfolio.

The state began the detailed project report process in 2017 and appointed Wadia Techno Engineering Services Ltd., Mumbai, as consultant to prepare the DPR. Aerial LiDAR surveys and consultations with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Board for Wildlife were completed before multiple feasible alignments were submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Despite those steps, the ministry rejected all proposed alignments.

The inability to reach a consensus with the Centre on the route over four years led to the shelving of the project and foreclosure of related work on 31 July 2020. The government said that unspent sanctioned funds were refunded to the Ministry of Home Affairs in June 2022 and that any revival would now depend on a decision by the Centre. Officials indicated that the deadlock had effectively halted construction plans and deferred anticipated local benefits.

The state framed the project as necessary for enhancing road connectivity and regional development on the Assam border with Bhutan and as a means to strengthen border management. With consultations and technical surveys completed, the state appears to await direction from the Centre before reinitiating the process. The matter remains subject to federal approval and possible future coordination between state and central agencies.

Infrastructure Urban

31 Jul 2026

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