The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the widening and upgradation of the Kalibor–Numaligarh section of NH-715 in Assam to a four-lane highway at a total capital cost of ₹6,957 crore. The project, to be executed on the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode, will cover a total length of 85.675 km and integrate wildlife-friendly measures along the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) stretch.
The existing two-lane highway passes through densely populated towns like Jakhalabandha (Nagaon) and Bokakhat (Golaghat) and runs along the southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park. Heavy traffic combined with seasonal floods in the park forces wildlife to cross the highway towards the Karbi Anglong Hills, often leading to fatal accidents.
To mitigate this, the project will include construction of a 34.5 km elevated corridor for free and uninterrupted movement of wildlife, 30.22 km of at-grade widening, and 21 km of greenfield bypasses around Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat. These interventions aim to decongest the corridor, enhance safety, and provide seamless connectivity between Guwahati, Kaziranga National Park, and Numaligarh.
The upgraded highway will also improve integration with NH-127, NH-129, SH-35, three airports (Tezpur, Lilabari, Jorhat), and three railway stations (Nagaon, Jakhalabandha, Vishwanath Chariali). It will boost access to key economic nodes such as Tezpur and Nagaon fishing clusters, important social hubs in Karbi Anglong and Wokha, and major religious and tourist destinations including Kaziranga National Park, Kakochang Waterfall, Baba Than Temple, and Maha Mrityunjay Temple.
Officials estimate that the project will generate 15.42 lakh person-days of direct employment and 19.19 lakh person-days of indirect employment, while improving regional trade, tourism, and industrial growth. Upon completion, the Kalibor-Numaligarh section of NH-715 is expected to play a transformative role in strengthening connectivity, promoting eco-sensitive infrastructure, and unlocking new avenues of economic prosperity in Assam.