25-yr dream takes shape as new road to cut city-DU travel time to minutes

Dibrugarh: A 25-year-old dream has finally broken ground as the long-awaited shortcut road linking Dibrugarh city to Dibrugarh University takes shape. The new stretch promises to transform daily commutes for hundreds of students, reducing the current 8-km journey to just 1.5 km. This will cut travel time from nearly half an hour to only a few minutes while easing traffic congestion on NH-37.The project work for the 1.5-km stretch was flagged off by state power minister and local MLA Prasanta Phukan on Sunday with the aim of completing it by March.The new road, estimated to cost Rs 1.5 crore, will pass through the scenic Jalan South Tea Estate, linking West Milan Nagar’s Nagabari area (Q-Lane) to the university campus.At present, students must take a circuitous route via Amolapatty Chariali and NH-37, often slowed by heavy highway traffic. The new tea garden route will bypass these bottlenecks entirely.The concept of a direct link through the tea gardens is not new. Minister Phukan revealed that the vision for the shortcut road was first proposed nearly a quarter-century ago."The plan to construct this road was originally conceptualised 25 years ago during the 2001 Assam Sahitya Sabha convention held in Dibrugarh. However, for various reasons, the project remained on paper for decades. Today, under the Mukhya Mantri Unnata Pakkipath Nirman Aachani (MMUPPNA), we are finally turning this vision into reality," Phukan said during the launch ceremony.The minister added that the project adheres strictly to state regulations. As per govt rules, up to 5% of tea garden land can be diverted for alternative public purposes, a provision that paved the way for the vital infrastructure.Beyond mere connectivity, the project is designed as an ecological corridor. The road will be 30 feet wide and flanked by extensive plantation drives. Phukan shared a detailed aesthetic and environmental plan for the stretch."This will not just be a road of bitumen and concrete, it will be a green canopy. We will plant Nahor (Indian Rose Chestnut) saplings on both sides, spaced 10 feet apart. Additionally, we will plant indigenous fruit-bearing trees like Leteku (Baccaurea motleyana), Poniol (Flacourtia jangomas), and guava to enhance the local biodiversity and provide a pleasant environment for commuters," he said.Phukan expressed his gratitude to chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for the swift approval of the project and set a tight deadline for its completion. "Work will proceed swiftly. We aim to have the road fully operational by March 31," he added.For university students, the new road promises major savings in time, fuel, and expenses, finally bridging the gap between the city’s residential hub and its premier educational institution.