The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has finalised a ₹5,729 crore infrastructure agreement for the construction of the long-awaited Guwahati Ring Road. Stretching across 121 kilometres, the project is envisioned as a game-changer for intra-state mobility, facilitating smoother vehicular flow across the capital region while acting as a strategic logistics link for the wider Northeast.
The concession agreement for the project was signed earlier this month with Infracon Pvt Ltd, marking a crucial step in the journey to modernise Assam’s transportation infrastructure. The project will be developed under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model, with a 30-year concession period, including four years allotted for construction. With groundwork set to commence post-monsoon in October 2025, the ring road aims to relieve Guwahati of mounting traffic congestion while serving as a gateway corridor to the eastern frontiers of India.
Structured into three major development phases, the ring road initiative seeks to decongest the urban sprawl of Guwahati by rerouting long-distance freight and inter-state traffic away from the city centre. The first segment, a greenfield, access-controlled corridor, will span 55.54 kilometres, linking Baihata Chariali to Sonapur through Kurua and Chandrapur. The second phase entails the widening of an existing 7.76-kilometre stretch of NH-27 between Jayanagar Underpass and Jorabat Junction from four to six lanes. The final and most ambitious segment will see the upgrading of nearly 58 kilometres of NH-27, excluding the stretch under Phase Two, and the construction of a new 3-kilometre bridge over the Brahmaputra River—an engineering undertaking likely to significantly reduce transit delays and bolster cross-river access.
The East-West Corridor, a critical transit route along NH-27, is poised to benefit from the seamless traffic movement facilitated by the ring road, with ripple effects expected across key regional nodes like Silchar, Tezpur, Shillong, Jorhat, and Barpeta. With heavy commercial vehicles from neighbouring states such as Nagaland, Tripura, West Bengal, and Bihar routinely passing through Guwahati, the project is expected to redirect traffic, curtail urban pollution, and lower accident rates by easing congestion in the city’s densely populated areas.
At a time when urban centres are grappling with the dual burden of infrastructure expansion and climate sensitivity, the Guwahati Ring Road is emblematic of a development model that aims to harmonise economic growth with environmental and social sustainability. The bridge over the Brahmaputra, for instance, holds not only engineering merit but also socio-economic significance—connecting communities, enabling commerce, and reducing the distance to essential services for thousands of daily commuters.
This infrastructure push also aligns with India’s broader ambitions under the Gati Shakti framework, which seeks to create multimodal, interconnected transport systems across the country. For Assam and the Northeastern states, the ring road is more than a traffic solution—it is a vital link in the pursuit of equitable development, enabling the region to plug into national supply chains, expand market access for rural producers, and create jobs across construction, logistics, and allied sectors.
As with any mega infrastructure undertaking, execution timelines, environmental safeguards, and land acquisition challenges will require vigilant monitoring. But with a clear roadmap, financial commitment, and a growing emphasis on green and inclusive development, the Guwahati Ring Road project represents a vital investment in the Northeast’s future—where mobility is not just about movement, but about empowerment and transformation.
Guwahati Ring Road Project to Boost Connectivity and Ease Traffic Across Northeast
