Assam residents welcome PM Modi's Kaziranga elevated corridor initiative

Guwahati, Jan 18 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform the foundation laying ceremony for the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project, an ambitious infrastructure initiative worth over Rs 6,950 crore, in Assam's Kaliabor on Sunday.

Locals expressed their enthusiasm and hailed the Prime Minister and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for their development initiatives that they say are "driving growth" in the Northeast.

The 86-km-long elevated corridor project, officially the four-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715, is designed as an environmentally sensitive national highway project.

It includes a 35-km elevated wildlife corridor passing through Kaziranga National Park, along with 21 km of bypasses and 30 km of widening of the existing highway. The project will improve connectivity across Nagaon, Karbi Anglong and Golaghat districts while ensuring free movement of wildlife and reducing human-animal conflict.

Speaking to IANS, Samaguri MLA Diplu Ranjan Sarma said, "PM Modi means development. He is a Prime Minister who focuses on infrastructural development. The vision he has since 2014 clearly shows that the aim is to develop both infrastructure and businesses."

"We have to take Assam in the top five states of the country. I credit PM Modi for all the growth that Assam has witnessed in recent years."

Speaking to IANS, a local said, "PM Modi is doing great work for our state. This corridor will help all of us, be it the common people or businessmen, everyone. We are very thankful to him."

Another local told IANS, "The way PM Modi is working for our Northeast is commendable. We are very excited about these new projects."

"We welcome the Prime Minister's initiative. We know that this elevated corridor will help us; it will reduce the distance to several places, and the animals will be safe in Karziranga," another local told IANS.

"I am very thankful to PM Modi and the Chief Minister for this new project. This will help drive development in our region," another local said.

During the programme, the Prime Minister will also flag off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains -- the Guwahati (Kamakhya)-Rohtak and Dibrugarh-Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) services -- strengthening rail connectivity between the Northeast and northern India.