Expedite Jhanji-Demow highway project: Sivasagar DC to officials

Dibrugarh: Nearly a decade after its foundation stone was laid, the troubled 44-km Jhanji-Demow four-lane highway section continues to lag behind schedule, prompting newly appointed Sivasagar district commissioner Mridul Yadav to conduct an inspection on Monday and direct officials to expedite the long-delayed project.

The Jhanji-Demow stretch, which forms a crucial link in the Numaligarh-Dibrugarh connecting route and the broader Guwahati-Dibrugarh corridor, has achieved only 64.66 per cent physical completion. This makes it the most delayed section of the entire highway project whose foundation stone was laid by Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Feb 27, 2016.


The protracted delays stand in stark contrast to other segments of the route, which have achieved near-complete or full execution. According to the latest National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) figures, the 39.7-km Numaligarh to Jorhat section has reached 100 per cent completion, while the 37.8-km Jorhat to Jhanji stretch stands at 97% physical completion.

Similarly, the 26.9-km Demow to Moran Bypass section, which includes an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF), has attained 100 per cent completion, as has the 19.1-km Moran Bypass to Bogibeel Junction stretch in Dibrugarh district. The Jhanji-Demow segment, passing through Jorhat and Sivasagar districts, remains the conspicuous exception.

During Monday’s inspection, DC Yadav directed NHIDCL officials and contractors to accelerate work immediately. NHIDCL officials assured the district commissioner that the entire Jhanji-Demow stretch would be fully completed by March 31, 2026, and emphasised that construction was proceeding at full speed.

“The completion of this stretch is a priority for ensuring regional connectivity. We have reviewed the progress and we will work closely with NHIDCL to monitor the timeline for the March 2026 deadline,” district commissioner Mridul Yadav said.

The section’s troubled history stems from administrative complications. NHIDCL terminated earlier contractors citing unsatisfactory progress and slow execution. Following a retendering process, the remaining work was divided and allocated among four separate contractors across four distinct packages — a restructuring aimed at improving coordination and accelerating completion.

Currently, Bharadwaj Unibuild Pvt Ltd is constructing the toll plaza and associated structures under a project valued at Rs 100.22 crore, having achieved 49 per cent physical completion. Bharat Vanijya Eastern Pvt Ltd (BVEPL) is executing a 13-km stretch worth Rs 542.87 crore, which has reached 53 per cent completion.

Contractor Kaushal Sharma holds responsibility for a 20-km section with a project cost of Rs 619.70 crore that has attained 60 per cent completion. Among the four contractors, Regal Enterprise has demonstrated the strongest progress, with its 11-km stretch (project cost Rs 476.50 crore) reaching 81 per cent physical completion — the highest advancement within the Jhanji-Demow segment.

The Jhanji-Demow highway represents a critical component of upper Assam’s transportation infrastructure, designed to connect major industrial and commercial hubs across the region. Its completion promises to significantly reduce travel time between Numaligarh and Dibrugarh while enhancing road safety along the heavily congested NH-37 corridor, which currently experiences substantial traffic volume.

The project’s prolonged timeline — approaching ten years since its 2016 foundation — has caused frustration among residents and businesses dependent on improved connectivity. Local stakeholders have repeatedly raised concerns about construction delays affecting commerce, emergency services and daily commutes.

With the March 2026 deadline now formally communicated to the district administration, pressure mounts on NHIDCL and its contracted firms to deliver on completion promises. The successful finishing of the final segment will mark the realisation of a decade-long infrastructure vision for upper Assam's connectivity.