Nagaon (Assam): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the ₹6,957-crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor and virtually flagged off two Amrit Bharat Express trains during a programme held in Assam’s Nagaon district.
The Prime Minister, who arrived from Guwahati as part of the final leg of his two-day visit to Assam, performed the Bhoomi Poojan ceremony for the ambitious infrastructure project aimed at protecting wildlife while improving road connectivity.
According to officials, the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor is designed to ensure safe movement of animals across the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, especially during the monsoon season. The project will also help reduce road accidents on National Highway-715, promote eco-tourism, and create employment opportunities for local communities.
The corridor is a key component of the four-laning project of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh stretch of NH-715. It includes approximately 34.45 kilometres of elevated, wildlife-friendly road sections, along with bypasses at Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat.
Prime Minister Modi also reviewed a detailed model of the elevated corridor during the event.
In addition to the road project, the Prime Minister virtually flagged off two Amrit Bharat Express trains on the Dibrugarh–Gomti Nagar (Lucknow) and Kamakhya–Rohtak routes. Officials said these new services will significantly enhance long-distance rail connectivity between Assam and several states, including West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana, while offering modern passenger facilities and reduced travel time.
Earlier, in a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister expressed optimism about the project, stating that the elevated corridor would play a crucial role in safeguarding wildlife, particularly during the monsoon season, and improve overall connectivity in the region.