Following years of delays and public anticipation, physical work on the long-pending four-lane road expansion connecting Birbal Bazar, Meherpur, to Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH) has officially resumed. The Cachar District Administration and Public Works Department (PWRD) have set August 5 as the launch date for a phased eviction and demolition drive on acquired lands along the corridor.
Phased Execution Strategy Announced by PWD
Ahead of the eviction drive, public announcements via miking were conducted across Birbal Bazar and adjacent commercial stretches in Meherpur, urging shopkeepers, vendors, and property owners to clear their belongings and vacate acquired structures.
Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (Roads Division), Aniruddha Nag, outlined a structured four-stage execution plan to ensure smooth implementation:
- Eviction and Demolition Drive: Phased clearing of acquired land and removal of illegal encroachments along the designated Right-of-Way (RoW).
- Comprehensive Utility Shifting: Relocation of underground and overhead utilities—including APDCL electricity lines, transformers, PHE water supply networks, telecommunication cables, and gas pipelines—outside the newly demarcated road boundaries.
- Stormwater Drainage Infrastructure: Construction of robust, covered RCC side drains and pedestrian footpaths to eliminate long-standing waterlogging issues along the stretch.
- Final Four-Lane Carriageway Paving: Laying the sub-base followed by Dense Bituminous Macadam (DBM) and Bituminous Concrete (BC) surfacing to complete the widened four-lane corridor.
The Executive Engineer praised the positive response from local residents and business owners, noting that many property owners have voluntarily begun dismantling their structure edges to assist the department in expediting the work.
High-Level Infrastructure Review Chaired by Minister Kaushik Rai
The momentum follows a comprehensive infrastructure review meeting held at the District Commissioner’s Office in Silchar, chaired by Minister for Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs, Housing & Urban Affairs, and Cooperation, Kaushik Rai.
The meeting was attended by prominent leaders and administrative heads, including:
- Dr. Rajdeep Roy, Hon’ble MLA
- Rajdeep Goala, Hon’ble MLA (Dholai)
- Rahul Kumar Gupta (IAS), District Commissioner, Cachar
- Rajib Roy (ACS), District Development Commissioner, Cachar
- Senior representatives from the Public Works Department (PWRD), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and local land acquisition authorities.
The review focused on evaluating progress, resolving land compensation disputes, and clearing administrative bottlenecks across high-priority regional transit links.
Key Cachar Infrastructure Projects Under Review
In addition to the Birbal Bazar–SMCH four-laning road, the ministerial review assessed several strategic connectivity projects in Cachar:
| Project | Key Focus & Scope |
| Silchar Elevated Corridor | Progress review of the proposed elevated flyover stretch from Rangirkhari Point to Trunk Road. |
| Capital–Rangirkhari Road | Widening and structural upgrades to handle heavy urban feeder traffic. |
| Madhuraghat Bridge | Acceleration of construction work connecting Malugram to Dudhpatil over the Barak River. |
| Regional Highway Links | Status evaluation of critical corridors, including Silchar–Jiribam, Badarpur–Malidhar, Borkhola–Kalain, Silchar–Malua, and Pailapool–Hangrum routes. |
| Land Acquisition Acceleration | Streamlining land clearing and compensation frameworks for Asom Mala, Bharatmala, and the proposed Silchar Greenfield Airport. |
Minister Kaushik Rai directed all executing agencies and department heads to maintain close inter-departmental coordination, clear pending formalities on priority, and adhere strictly to project deadlines to ensure timely delivery for the people of Cachar.
