A Dream Project

With its gifted and strategic     location, high hills and tall     mountains, mighty rivers, picturesque landscapes, graceful weather, rich flora and fauna, and inhabitants with rich cultural heritage, Northeast India occupies a unique place on earth.

The mighty Brahmaputra is the lifeline of this region. The shape of the Brahmaputra valley is long and thin. It is long in the east-west directions and narrow towards north and south. Let us dream a project to make this a Dream Valley! Dreaming is the first step in any project. If we can dream and develop a phase-wise plan that conforms to our dream, barriers of technology, time, energy and money can be overcome. We need to keep in our mind that Rome was not built in a day and the Great Wall of China was constructed over centuries. The mega-project I am dreaming is multi-purpose. Though it can be construed as wild Imagineering and  thinking out of the box, with perseverance it can be implemented. It would be a high-valued upgrade to the quality of life to the people of the valley and the surrounding areas including Bhutan.

The steps (sub-projects) of the mega-project are enumerated below.

1.    The first step is to construct a wide highway parallel to the Brahmaputra with four lanes for four-wheelers and one for two-wheelers  (let us call it NH-37A) on the south bank from Dibrugarh to Mankachar including connection to Tura. The distance in between this proposed road and the Brahmaputra will be maintained at 4.5 kms for most of its length excluding the Majuli area, Guwahati city, and near bridge entrances. The distance from the river will be wider towards Dhubri. The road will be  monitored by Control Rooms along the way. There will be beautiful gates to villages, towns and cities on the way. Well-designed information kiosks along the way will be set up for the benefit of the travelers. There will be public-friendly beautiful road crossings, view towers, bus stops with cable TV, and public call offices. There will be drinking water and public conveniences at specific intervals. All cabling works will be underground. The whole road-area will be lit up with high-mast halogen lamps. Layout and design of NH-37A will be appropriate with the surrounding terrain. The entire infrastructure will be maintained by private enterprises on a contract basis.  The Ganga Expressway project recently announced by UP can be a model to emulate.

2.    At the same time, there will be the construction of a road parallel to the Brahmaputra (let us call it NH-52A) on the north-bank from Dhemaji (connecting Pasighat) to Dhubri (connecting Kochbihar). The distance between centerlines of NH-52A and the Brahmaputra will be maintained at 4.5 kms again. It will be a mirror image of NH-37A.

3.    (a) NH-37A will have sufficient number of bridges, overbridges and culverts so that floodwaters, wild animals, boats, etc. can travel easily. Some portions of existing NH-37 will coincide with NH-37A in places such as Jakhalabandha, Burhapahar,  Jalukbari, etc.). 3(b) ditto for NH-52A.

4.    (a) The south embankment of the Brahmaputra will be paved with stones of size more than 250cm and reinforced concrete.  Stairs down to the water with wide steps following latest civil engineering design  will be built at intervals on the south embankment throughout from Dibrugarh to Mankachar. The embankment will be decoratively planted with branchless trees like coconut, tal, and khejur. This sub-project will permanently solve the erosion problem problem and moderate the floods. It will also highly facilitate water transport, and boost tourism, rural industries and water sports. 4(b) Similar for north-bank.

5.    Every district will be facilitated with at least one upgraded riverport. The riverports will be constructed at a lower elevation compared to NH-37A. The south bank will have a number of boat stations to facilitate small businesses including fishing and water sports. 5(b) ditto for north-bank.

6.    The riverbed will be dredged and the dredged sand will be used for the construction of NH-37A and NH-52A. The average width of the riverbed will be maintained at 4.0 kms excluding  Majuli, Guwahati, and bridge entrances.
7.    The main tributaries of the Brahmaputra will also be engineered such so that issues of flood, irrigation and water transport will be resolved. Tributaries such as Jia-Bhoroli, Manas-Beki, etc., can be developed for thrilling adventurous water sports like rafting.

8.    (a) Next, a railway line parallel to NH-37A at a centerline distance of 1.0 km from NH-37A from Dibrugarh to Goalpara will be constructed for electric trains with stations near every river port. This proposed railway will be at a higher elevation than the proposed NH-37A such that there is no obstruction for clear view in between the south bank and the north bank  for any traveler. This slope will also carry rain water to storm-water drains. 8(b) The areas between the proposed railway and NH-37A will be developed with amusement parks, orchid gardens, butterfly gardens, motels, book kiosks, flower gardens and storm-water drains, in urban areas, there will be market complexes.

9.    (a) A railway in parallel to NH-52A at 1.0 km centerline distance will be constructed as well. It will be a mirror image of 8(a). 9(b) Areas in between this proposed railway and NH-52A will be developed like 8(b)  from Tezpur to North Guwahati (next to Sualkuchi).

10.    Both banks up to the proposed rail lines will be free from private occupation excluding Majuli and other river islands. Opportunities in reclaimed land can be offered beforehand to the displaced persons. The rural areas (even urban areas) will be kept free of private and public development towards the river as far as possible. Only public utilities will have offices and control rooms for services to travelers and tourists including gas stations, emporia, haats, rest houses, hotels and motels at certain intervals and towards direction away from the river. The char (riverine islets) areas will become safe landing and resting places for migratory birds.

The ten points listed above are the sub-projects of the mega-project. Lets imagine the effect of this dream project just after its completion. We will get surface, rail and water transport with unimaginable ease and charm. In addition, tourism industry will get an extra boost. Tourists can tour the entire region in easier, cheaper and comfortable manner. It is no doubt that the brilliant combination of natural and artificial set-ups will transform the region to a dream valley. This will provide employment opportunities within a beautiful holistic environment to millions. It will provide heavenly facilities to locals as well as tourists. By the year 2020, it is projected by the UN that the tourism industry will be the biggest industry in the world. So, let’s try to complete a fraction of this mega-project by 2020.

Let us refer to the cross-sectional sketch. As the first action item, let’s prepare a prototype of the project. Then, we need to publicize through newspapers, exhibitions, demonstrations, meetings and presentations in places within the valley. These will create the public opinion and reduce problems during public hearings. These will also facilitate collecting statutory permissions prior to subsequent phase-wise commencement of the project. We have created the conceptual picture of our dream valley. Now, the biggest question in front of us is how to proceed toward implementation. Let’s not be pre-occupied thinking that this mega-project is not feasible or impossible. Let’s proceed step by step. A day will come when we will see it fully implemented.

As the second action item, intellectuals, NGOs, NRAs and the Government of Assam will have to harness tremendous will power to implement portions of the ten sub-projects one after another in priority and phase-wise basis. Let’s consult with concerned agencies like EIL for detailed feasibility reports, drawings and technologies for each of these ten sub-projects. Then we need to workout and arrange estimates for each sub-project separately.

Funding will be the main constraint in starting this project. We need to work out a priority-wise short-list for fractionated sub-projects and on that basis commencement action will be initiated. As the south bank is suffering from severe erosion in comparison to the north bank, let’s prioritize the south bank first. Secondly, from the tourist point of view, it is important to connect Guwahati, Pobitora, Lawkhowa and Kajiranga. So, step 4(a) above can be divided into fractions out of which the portion from Guwahati to Jakhalabandha (a phase of 4(a)) may be kept at priority position 1. The portion of NH-37A from Chandrapur to Jakhalabandha, a phase of no 1, may be kept at priority  2. It will benefit Orang, Nameri, Bhalukpong and Tezpur too, for the Kolia-Bhomora Bridge.

We may get considerable contributions from NFR, Oil, Tea, Telecom, and Power sectors. These organizations will be given advertising facilities besides transport facilities in lieu of their contributions. Similarly, other private investors and donors will also be encouraged to obtain opportunities for display in marble tiles fond memories of their near and dear ones against donation to complete any fraction.

On successful completion of above, the rail link from Chandrapur to Jakhalabandha may be kept in priority position 3. Its completion will clear the shape and size of the dream project and give encouragement to the next phases.

Let’s hurry and come forward to implement the project from Chandrapur to Jakhalabandha. It may be past year 2020 and the whole project may go beyond year 2100, but the project will complete if there is whole-hearted support, sincere involvement and positive attitude from each inhabitant of this great valley. It’s obvious that we cannot enjoy the outcome ourselves, even the next generation may not be able to enjoy the fruits of this project, but the third generation from now will surely enjoy this outcomes of  this project. It will be the pride of Asom forever!

by Abhayananda Medhi, Numaligarh Refineries Limited, Assam