An aerial view of the Six Mile flyover after it was thrown open by chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Feb. 13: Dispur announced the launch of a multicrore-rupee scheme to improve road connectivity in the state as chief minister Tarun Gogoi inaugurated the Six Mile flyover and a four-lane road, connecting Six Mile with National Highway 37 via Jaya Nagar, here today.

Speaking at the inaugural function, PWD minister Ajanta Neog said the new project, christened Chief Minister’s Urban Road Development Scheme, would start with an initial outlay of Rs 40 crore.

Gogoi said the government had accorded top priority to improvement of road infrastructure, including bridges, and so there would be no dearth of funds for the projects to be taken up under the new scheme.

He said the 1.65km-long road would be named after Assam’s literary icon Lakshminath Bezbaruah.

PWD commissioner and secretary M.C. Boro said the four-lane flyover would considerably ease traffic congestion at that stretch of GS Road. The flyover will make entry into and exit from the Gateway to the Northeast — as the city is referred to — smoother.

The Six Mile is the first major junction after Khanapara for those entering Guwahati from the eastern side.

“You can now just sail over to the heart of the city,” a PWD official said.

Boro said the construction of the arm of Six Mile flyover, connecting it with Panjabari Road, and the arm of Bhangagarh flyover, connecting it with Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Road, will be completed in three months.

The salient features of the Six Mile flyover include “New Jersey-type crash barrier” at medians for more safety, provision of rotary underneath the flyover for smooth movement of vehicular traffic, carpeting of the flyover’s road surface with mastic asphalt and bituminous concrete, nine high mast lights for better illumination and reinforced earth wall on approach roads.

The flyover is the tenth such bridge in Guwahati.

Admitting delay in construction of the flyover, Guwahati development department minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said it was because of certain constraints such as flaws in the initial design of the flyover prepared by the consultant engaged by the PWD.

Gogoi said though the government had prioritised improvement of road infrastructure here, it had accorded equal importance to development of roads and bylanes in other urban centres across the state.