The Assam government’s ambitious plan to construct a ₹564.50 crore elevated corridor in Silchar has hit a major roadblock, with several key Merchants’ Associations submitting a powerful memorandum to the Chief Minister, strongly opposing the proposed alignment. The traders warn that proceeding with the current plan would cripple the town’s commercial backbone and lead to mass unemployment.
The memorandum was jointly submitted on Wednesday (November 12) to the Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, through the Cachar District Commissioner’s office.
The Economic Threat: ‘Heart of the Town’ Affected
The merchants, representing vital commercial hubs like the Hospital Road Merchant Association, Central Silchar Traders Association, and Rangirkhari Business Owners Association, argue that the planned route targets the most critical economic arteries of the town.
- Proposed Alignment: The controversial plan involves a 3.462 km elevated corridor connecting Trunk Road (near Capital Point) to Rangirkhari, a route that runs directly through the congested commercial core.
- Affected Hubs: The traders state the project will severely impact principal business zones, including Central Road, Premtola, Hospital Road, and Rangirkhari.
- The Warning: The memorandum clearly states that construction in the heart of the town will “devastate hundreds of businesses and cause massive unemployment,” severely impacting Silchar’s economy, which is heavily reliant on micro and medium-scale trading.
Demand for Rerouting and Public Consultation
While the associations acknowledge and appreciate the government’s intent to ease chronic traffic congestion in Silchar, they insist that a solution should not come at the cost of the local economy.
The traders have put forward two critical demands:
- Rerouting: They have suggested an alternative, less disruptive route that would utilize more government land: starting from the Silchar Radio Station and extending via the Police Ground and the present Central Jail area up to Rangirkhari. They claim this route would involve minimal commercial displacement.
- Public Consultation: The associations strongly criticized the district administration for failing to conduct a public consultation or a social impact study, which they stress is a legal requirement before proceeding with a project of this magnitude.
Next Steps: Meeting Scheduled
Following the submission of the memorandum, representatives of the merchants met with the District Commissioner, who reportedly assured them that their concerns were heard.
A high-level meeting between the district administration and the traders’ associations is tentatively scheduled for November 20 or 21 to discuss the matter and seek a collaborative solution.
The stakeholders have urged the Chief Minister to immediately review the project plan, delay the foundation work, and ensure a transparent public hearing is held to prevent the infrastructure project from crippling the commercial backbone of the Barak Valley.
