The ₹8,340 crore Guwahati-Bilasipara corridor will not affect Bijoynagar and Mirza, as a 16-kilometre Greenfield bypass is being constructed to avoid these densely populated areas. Locals, however, fear that their businesses will be impacted.
Due to the lack of available land to widen the road through Bijoynagar and Mirza, the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has opted to bypass these areas. A 16-kilometre Greenfield bypass is being built from Pachania Para to Kukurmara through Bongora.
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Pankaj Singh, the Executive Director of NHIDCL, told GPlus, “Bijoynagar and Mirza are densely populated areas, and there was little scope for widening the road.” He added that, as a result, a bypass is being constructed from Pachania Para to Kukurmara, which will connect to the VIP junction near Guwahati airport. While this decision was made to avoid eviction and land acquisition, locals in Mirza and Bijoynagar are concerned that their businesses will be affected.
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A shopkeeper in Mirza told GPlus, “Once the bypass is constructed, vehicles will no longer pass through Mirza, and our businesses will be impacted.” He explained that the Mirza market is highly dependent on vehicles passing through the area and stopping for various needs.
Locals in Bijoynagar share similar concerns. A resident of Bijoynagar said the area is home to many tourist spots, and if the road infrastructure is not improved, tourists may stop visiting. “If vehicles use the bypass, the shops in the area will suffer,” he added, noting that the stretch of road through Bijoynagar will remain undeveloped.
NHIDCL officials explained that the decision to build the bypass was based on an analysis of the population in the area and the availability of land.
The Guwahati-Bilasipara corridor will cover a total stretch of 200 kilometres, upgrading two-lane roads to four-lane roads. The total budget for the project is ₹8,340 crore, and five flyovers will be built along the corridor at Krishnai, Dudhnoi, Dhupdhara, Boko and Chaygaon.
The entire corridor project is divided into different packages. According to the progress of these packages, one stretch will be completed by 2026, and another by 2028. The stretch between Tulungia and VIP Chowk in Guwahati will be completed by 2026, while the stretch from Tulungia to Bilasipara will be completed by 2028.
