Kaliabor: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project – a Rs6,950 crore initiative to expand the Kaliabor–Numaligarh stretch of NH-715 into a four-lane highway, including a landmark 35-km wildlife corridor designed to protect Kaziranga’s famed biodiversity.
Addressing a large gathering in Kaliabor, the PM said the project marked “a new phase of connectivity, conservation and confidence” for Assam, enabling economic growth while safeguarding the Kaziranga National Park ecosystem. The PM further said the development would ease access to Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, lift tourism and livelihoods, and allow animals to move freely during floods – a recurring challenge in the world heritage site.
Reflecting on his earlier stay inside Kaziranga, Modi said the landscape had left a “deep imprint”, and praised the state’s successful battle against wildlife crime, noting that 2025 recorded zero rhino poaching cases, compared to dozens a decade ago.
He highlighted cultural vibrancy as an equally integral part of Assam’s identity. Referencing his visit to the Bagurumba Dwhou festival in Guwahati, he lauded the 10,000 Bodo artists who took part, calling the spectacle a celebration that “touched the eyes and reached the heart.” He similarly recalled attending the Jhumoir Mahotsav and Magh Bihu festivities during past visits, saying such moments reflected the government’s mantra, “Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi” (Development and Heritage Together).
Modi stressed that Kaliabor’s significance is rooted in history, citing the decisive role played by Lachit Borphukan in defeating Mughal forces, according to an official statement. “Assam’s courage, unity and pride travel through this soil,” he noted, adding that his government was determined to transform the region into a modern connectivity hub.
At the event, the PM also flagged off three major rail services from Kaliabor, including the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train connecting Guwahati to Kolkata, and two Amrit Bharat Express trains linking Assam with West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. The expanded rail network, he said, would create new opportunities for students, traders, and travellers.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to the North East, the PM said the region had moved from “feelings of neglect” to being “central to India’s development journey.” He contrasted the earlier Rs2,000 crore railway allocation to Assam with the nearly Rs10,000 crore now being invested annually, supporting doubling, electrification, new lines, and upgraded passenger facilities.
On environmental stewardship, Modi defended the government’s record, pointing to increased forest cover, 260 crore saplings planted under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative, the expansion of tiger and elephant reserves, restored wetlands, and the reintroduction of cheetahs. He said Kaziranga now mirrored a national shift proving “economy and ecology can advance together.”
He also hailed Assam’s crackdown on encroachment and infiltration, asserting that protecting land, forests, and cultural heritage remained essential for long-term stability.
Concluding his address, the PM said the Kaziranga corridor and the new rail links would open fresh economic horizons, strengthen tourism and transport, and bring the North East “closer to the heart of the nation.”
Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Pabitra Margherita were among the dignitaries present.
