Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma cut the ribbon on a sleek new 290-meter road overbridge in Guwahati’s bustling Panbazar area on Saturday. Built by the Northeast Frontier Railway for Rs 47 crore, this bridge promises to slash traffic jams in one of the city’s busiest spots.
The event drew a crowd of big names, including Assam’s Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MLA Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Guwahati Mayor Mrigen Sarania, and top railway officials like General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava and Divisional Railway Manager Samir Lohani.
Sarma hailed the Panbazar Road Overbridge as a major win for commuters. “This new structure will smooth out traffic congestion, speed up electric train services, and boost the ongoing upgrades at Guwahati Railway Station,” he said during the ceremony.
He spotlighted broader railway boosts in Assam, like redeveloping 50 stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The region is also pushing ahead with electrification, a new double line, and a bridge over the Saraighat. Plus, the Ministry of Railways greenlit double-line projects linking Lumding to Furkating and Furkating to New Tinsukia. Once done, these will make trips to Delhi and Kolkata quicker and easier for passengers.
Sarma praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for historic rail links to Mizoram and thanked the Northeast Frontier Railway and Indian Railways for revamping the area’s infrastructure.
The bridge features a 7.5-meter-wide carriageway, a 1.5-meter footpath, and sturdy support from 41 foundation piles. Engineers packed it with modern touches, like a 60-meter bow string girder and composite girders, to give trains— including electric ones and oversized cargo—plenty of clearance. That means smoother rail traffic and less gridlock along the Panbazar-Paltan Bazar corridor.
The old Panbazar ROB, built back in 1965, had lasted nearly 60 years but struggled with its narrow lanes, low height, and constant flooding. It choked roads and slowed down electrified trains, making daily life tougher in Assam’s capital.
To fix that, the Northeast Frontier Railway kicked off the replacement in March 2024. Despite the tricky demolition and build, teams wrapped it up by August 2025—just 18 months later.
Now, Guwahati has a fresh lifeline for travel. The new Panbazar Road Overbridge will make roads safer and quicker for drivers and walkers, while helping trains run on time. It ties into Guwahati Railway Station’s remodel and strengthens overall transport links in the city.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
