(a) whether `Silchar By-Pass Road` from Ram Nagar to Arkatipur was approved by the Government;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons for delay in the construction of said by-pass road;
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard; and
(d) the time by which it is likely to be completed alongwith the details of funds likely to be incurred thereon?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (d) Construction of Silchar bypass on NH-53 was envisaged by the Government during the year 1989. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was initially entrusted with the construction of the bypass but the work could not be started due to delay in Land Acquisition by the State Government. Subsequently, in November 2007, improvement of the entire NH-53 (except Silchar town portion) including Silchar bypass in Assam was included under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in the North Eastern Region (SARDP-NE) and the construction of Silchar bypass was entrusted to Assam PWD. As on date, construction of Silchar bypass excluding a major bridge of 360 m across River Barak is in progress after sanction of work amounting to Rs. 103.89 crore on 08.11.2010. Also, tender based estimate amounting to Rs. 43.23 Crore for the said bridge is under consideration in the Ministry. The Bypass is scheduled to be completed by March 2015.