+
Indo-Bhutan Border Road Project Stalled Over Alignment Dispute
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Indo-Bhutan Border Road Project Stalled Over Alignment Dispute

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.

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.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Real Estate

BMC OC Amnesty Scheme Requires Key Approvals from Mumbai Societies

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has clarified that housing societies applying under its Occupation Certificate (OC) amnesty scheme must possess key approvals linked to the original construction. The requirements include a valid Intimation of Disapproval (IOD), an approved building plan and a Commencement Certificate (CC), along with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the developer or original construction applicant. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) makes clear that the absence of an OC alone will not qualify a building for relief. Societies must establish that their build..

Next Story
Real Estate

Gurugram Emerges as Luxury Senior Living Hub

Gurugram is emerging as a potential hub for luxury senior living, supported by available land, healthcare infrastructure, connectivity and a concentration of affluent professionals, high-net-worth individuals and non-resident Indians. These factors could give the city an advantage over land-constrained metros such as Mumbai. A report by the Association of Senior Living India (ASLI) and JLL estimates that India’s organised senior living market could represent a $10.1 bn opportunity by 2030. The sector had about 25,050 organised units as of June 2026, while penetration stood at only 1.5 per ce..

Next Story
Real Estate

Corrosion Costs India’s Infrastructure Rs. 142 bn Annually

Corrosion costs India an estimated Rs. 1.42 tn annually, equivalent to 4.3 per cent of gross domestic product, according to a report by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the National Research Institute. Infrastructure accounts for Rs. 142 bn of the annual burden, making it the sector with the largest absolute cost among those examined. The report, presented at the CII Annual Infrastructure Summit 2026, said the infrastructure-sector cost equals about 2.9 per cent of the sector’s gross domestic product. It estimated that effective measures could generate maximum savings of Rs. 495.8 bn..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code