Chief Minister Inaugurates Panbazar’s New Road Over Bridge in Guwahati

Guwahati, 27th September, 2025: Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, today inaugurated a newly built 290-metre-long Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Panbazar, Guwahati. Constructed by Northeast Frontier Railway at an estimated cost of Rs. 47 crore, the bridge marks a crucial infrastructure milestone designed to ease traffic congestion in the city. 

According to an official statement given by Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer, the inaugural function was attended by several eminent dignitaries, including Shri Jayanta Mallabaruah, Hon’ble Minister, Government ofy Assam; Smt. Bijuli Kalita Medhi, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha); Shri Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Hon’ble MLA; Shri Mrigen Sarania, Hon’ble Mayor of Guwahati Municipal Corporation; Shri Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, General Manager, N.F. Railway; Shri Samir Lohani, Divisional Railway Manager, Lumding; alongside senior officials of the Railways and State Government.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister noted that the new Road Over Bridge would significantly reduce congestion, enable smoother electric train movement and support development works at Guwahati Railway Station. He also underlined railway initiatives such as the redevelopment of 50 stations in Assam under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, accelerated electrification, and the new double line with bridge at Saraighat. The Chief Minister further highlighted that the Ministry of Railways had sanctioned double line projects between Lumding–Furkating and Furkating–New Tinsukia, which will enhance passenger travel to Delhi and Kolkata. He praised historic rail connectivity achieved in Mizoram under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and expressed gratitude to Northeast Frontier Railway and Indian Railways for strengthening regional connectivity.

 The ROB incorporates a 7.5-metre-wide carriageway, 1.5-metre-wide footpath and rests on 41 foundation piles. Advanced features include a 60-metre Bow String Girder with composite girders, ensuring better vertical and horizontal clearances for transport. This will enable unhindered train movement, including electric locomotives and over-dimensional consignments, while easing congestion along the Panbazar–Paltan Bazar corridor.

The old Panbazar ROB, built in 1965, had served the city for nearly six decades but became inadequate due to its narrow span, low clearance and recurring waterlogging. These shortcomings led to major traffic snarls and disrupted electrified train services. To resolve the issues and cater to rising transport demands, NFR launched the replacement project in March 2024. Despite challenges of dismantling and modern construction, the project was completed within 18 months, in August 2025.

Commissioning of this project provides Guwahati with vital connectivity infrastructure ensuring safety, efficiency and reliability. The new Panbazar ROB is expected to benefit citizens and road commuters, facilitate faster train operations, enable re-modelling of Guwahati Railway Station and reinforce multimodal transport in the city.