Guwahati: The work to convert the four-lane Guwahati Bypass to a six-lane one has finally begun.

The construction work of the road started on March 3. The project is at the initial stage. It will take some time to pick up the pace.

Guwahati Bypass from Jalukbari Point to Basistha Chariali is part of the East-West Corridor. The original project had the provision of four lanes and one flyover. In the past few years, the authorities concerned realized that the road has to bear the brunt of the traffic load of the entire Northeast, let alone of Assam. Traffic jams at several stretches of the road are almost regular.

In the past three/four years, NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) decided, in principle, to upgrade the highway to a six-lane road with four flyovers and one vehicular underpass. Due to some policy-related hurdles, the authorities could not start the project work.

The Centre decided to upgrade the Bypass to a six-lane one last year. It entrusted the NHAI with the construction of the project. Through bidding, NHAI allotted the work to Dhariwal Buildtech Company Ltd, a Haryana-based construction company. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 300 crore. The Bypass will now have a flyover at Boragaon, Gorchuk, Lokhra and Basistha Chariali, besides a vehicular underpass at Beharbari Point.

Talking to The Sentinel, NHAI's Guwahati office Project Director Suresh Kumar said, "The target schedule of the project is 29 months. We have already instructed the construction company to meet the target schedule. Initial works are going on to make the service lanes available for traffic. Works for the six lanes will follow it. Pile testing of the flyovers is also going on." NHAI is an autonomous nodal agency of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Earlier, the State Government put pressure on the Union Ministry to convert the Guwahati Bypass to a six-lane road with four flyovers and one vehicular underpass.