Assam govt to hand over 992 acres to AAI for Silchar greenfield airport
The cabinet approved the transfer of 3,000 bighas at Doloo Tea Estate in Silchar to the AAI for the construction of a greenfield airport, says Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam Cabinet makes Assams History, Geography compulsory for Classes 68
The Assam Cabinet has approved significant decisions. History and Geography will be compulsory subjects for Classes VI to VIII. Land has been approved for a new airport in Silchar. A logistics policy aims to make Assam a hub. A joint project with Dassault Systems will offer specialized courses. Compensation for land acquisition and a new Sainik School are also approved.
Researchers develop spherical cap studs as a comfortable alternative to traditional speed bumps
Researchers from NIT Silchar and Nirma University have developed Spherical Cap Studs (SCS) as a comfortable alternative to traditional speed bumps. Funded by DST, SCS gradually slows vehicles, reducing discomfort while maintaining safety. Tests on two-wheelers using speed profiles, VDV, and Se measurements showed that SCS offers similar speed reduction but lowers rider discomfort by 12.845.57%. This innovation is ideal for residential areas, campuses, and markets, providing safer, smoother rides and minimizing vehicle vibrations and health risks.
Over 6 kg of heroin seized as NCB dismantles major trafficking network
On Monday, an NCB team intercepted an indigenous motorboat on the Barak River near Silchar
3 killed as mini truck collides with AgartalaSilchar Express in Tripura
At least three people died in Tripura on Thursday after a mini truck collided with the AgartalaSilchar Express in the AmbasaManu section of Dhalai district. Railway officials said the goods-laden vehicle entered the track at an unauthorised crossing, leading to a direct impact with the train engine.
Road quality non-negotiable, officers and contractors to be held accountable: Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari discussed Indias recent infrastructure developments with TNIE , citing a 60% expansion of the national highway network to over 1.46 lakh km. He outlined ongoing projects worth Rs 12.20 lakh crore, major highway corridors, city ring roads, reforms in land acquisition and environmental clearances, measures to ensure road maintenance accountability, the rollout of GPS-based toll collection, and Bihars progress relative to other states. Excerpts Q) The country has seen a massive expansion of its national highway network in recent years. What is the current status of this growth? Indias national highway network has surged from 91,287 km in 2014 to over 1.46 lakh km today, a 60% increase. Currently, 48,536 km of projects worth Rs 12.20 lakh crore are underway, with completed schemes totaling Rs 16 lakh crore and upcoming projects at Rs 15 lakh crore. Sixteen major highway corridors, including the Arunachal Frontier Highway (Rs 30,000 crore) and ShillongSilchar Greenfield Highway (Rs 23,000 crore), have been sanctioned to boost regional connectivity. Ring roads in cities like Ayodhya, Kanpur, and Guwahati aim to ease congestion. In 11 years, 1.06 lakh km of highways have been constructed, with the ministrys budget rising ninefold to Rs 2.87 lakh crore. Q) Some projects still face delays in projects caused by land acquisition and environmental clearance issues? Land acquisition falls under state governments, while environmental clearances involve multiple departments, making coordination key. Reducing delays is a test of effective leadership. We prioritise sustainable planning, ensuring timely land acquisition and fast-track approvals for forest, wildlife, and environmental clearances. At least 90% of land and clearance requirements must now be completed before project awards.Regular meetings with state officials and the PM Gati Shakti initiative have streamlined inter-ministerial coordination. Digital portals, Bhoomi Amount Digital Portal for land and Parivesh for environmental approvals simplify processes, accelerating project delivery and enhancing efficiency nationwide. Q) India has seen record construction of highways in recent years but their maintenance still seems to be a challenge. For each fault, we (the Central Government) are held responsible. About 80 percent of complaints on social media are not under our jurisdiction or do not pertain to national highways (NHs). Our roads are of good quality; however, there have been some problems. We are continuously improving the technology and will definitely address these issues. Regarding accountability, we are serious about ensuring that officers and contractors are responsible if roads are not maintained properly. There should be no compromise with quality, and we are committed to fixing lapses wherever they occur to maintain high standards. Q) How long will it take to implement the GPS based Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system? It has already started at some locations and will be introduced at 4 to 6 places from November 15. We will move further gradually, expanding the initiative step by step while monitoring progress and ensuring smooth implementation at each stage. Q) With Bihar heading into elections, how does the state compare to others in development across key sectors like water, power, transport, and roads? Bihar needs accelerated development compared to other states. Water, power, transport and roads are the basic requirements for progress. The developmental work undertaken by our government, in the last 10-11 years, has transformed the face of Bihar. Business and industries are growing steadily in Bihar. The young people of Bihar see their future in development and employment. They do not bother about Jaat (Caste), Pant (Community), Dharma (Religion) and Bhasha (Language). They aspire to excel in education, seek better job opportunities, and want to actively contribute to the nations growth. I think that the state has sufficient electricity supply. Irrigation has significantly improved. The road infrastructure has also got better. Earlier, the Ganga had just two bridges, now we have 13. In the highway sector; projects worth Rs five lakh crores are going on. Projects having a cost of Rs 2.5 lakh crores either have been completed or on the verge of completion. Some will start soon. We are building big highways; Varanasi-Kolkata highways cost of Rs 40,000 crores and Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway is worth Rs 50,000 crores. All these highways will change the landscape of Bihar. With a strong and vast network of highways and robust power sector, the industry will reach the state naturally and will ensure Bihar's comprehensive development. Q) Staying on with politics, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi recently held a press conference in which he alleged Vote Chori In Haryana elections. He along with other opposition parties has been questioning Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which started in Bihar. How do you see this issue? Rahul Gandhi speaks for himself. Even his party people don't take him seriously. There is no need to respond to his baseless comments.
Bodies Of 3 College Students Who Drowned In Assam Waterfall Found
The bodies of three missing students of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Silchar were recovered from a waterfall in Assam's Dima Hasao district on Sunday.
3 NIT students drown in waterfall in Assam
Haflong: Three students from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Silchar, drowned in a waterfall in Assams Dima Hasao district, officials said on Sunday. The incident took place at the Bulchol (Hmunthajao) waterfall, located in Bolsom Bagan of Harangajao on Saturday afternoon, they said. The tragic mishap occurred when the group of NIT students visited Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Three NIT Silchar students drown in Assam waterfall
GUWAHATI: Three first year students of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar in Assam drowned on Saturday. The incident occurred at the Bulchol (Hmunthajao) waterfall in Harangajao area of the hill district of Dima Hasao. The deceased Sauhard Rai, Sarbavartika Singh (both from Uttar Pradesh) and Radhika (from Bihar) were out on an outing to the scenic site when they accidentally fell into the waterfall. The bodies of Sauhard Kumar and Radhika Kumari were recovered at around 11.35 am and 11.43 am of Sunday respectively, an official report stated. The body of Sarbavartika was recovered on Saturday evening. Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force, Assam Rifles, police, District Disaster Management Authority, and local community members were engaged in the rescue operations. Authorities said poor mobile connectivity and lack of vehicular access in the hilly terrain affected rescue efforts. They advised the public to exercise caution while visiting waterfalls and other natural sites in the area during the post-monsoon season.
3 NIT students drown in Bulchol waterfall in Assam
A tragic incident occurred at Bulchol waterfall in Assam's Dima Hasao district. Three students from NIT Silchar drowned on Saturday afternoon. The students were visiting the scenic waterfall for an outing. Rescue efforts faced challenges due to poor connectivity and difficult terrain. All three students were retrieved but declared dead. Authorities urge caution at tourist spots, especially post-monsoon.
Outing turns fatal, NIT Silchar pupil drowns, 2 missing
Assams Silchar residents sing Amaar sonar Bangla to protest BJPs seditious tag
If a song penned by Tagore 66 years before the birth of Bangladesh can be objectionable, the same yardstick should be applied to Sindh mentioned in the Indian national anthem, says expert
After Assam CM's treason order, Silchar residents sing Tagore song in protest
GUWAHATI: Residents of Silchar town in Assams Cachar district sang Amar Sonar Bangla, Ami Tomay Bhalobasi in unison to send across a message that the singing of the song is not an anti-national act as viewed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the ruling BJP. Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore penned this patriotic song, meaning my beloved Bengal, I love you, in 1905 during the first partition of Bengal. Decades later, Bangladesh adopted it as its national anthem. A group of people, including intellectuals and members of NGOs and cultural groups, gathered at the statue of freedom fighter Khudiram Bose in Silchar town on Thursday evening and sang the song. They said they were proud of Rabindra Sangeet (Tagore songs). Former Vice Chancellor of Assam University Tapadhir Bhattacharjee said he could never imagine that singing a Tagore song would be viewed as an act of treason one day. He called upon people to pay tribute to Tagore by proudly singing the song. Social activist Ajay Rai said it was unfortunate that the chief minister ordered the filing of an FIR against a senior leader for singing the song. Cachar, Sribhumi and Hailakandi are the three districts of southern Assams Barak Valley adjoining Bangladesh and where Bengalis are in a large majority. The controversy erupted after a video of a Congress leaders rendition of the song at a Seva Dal meeting in Sribhumi went viral. Bidhu Bhushan Das, a septuagenarian, had started his address by singing the song. Reacting sharply, the chief minister had stated that the commencement of a meeting of the Congress with the singing of Bangladeshs national anthem was unacceptable in Assam. He had instructed the police to file a case of treason against Congress members in Sribhumi. We will lodge an FIR and the police will take action under appropriate sections of law, he had stated. The Congress had slammed the BJP for its ignorance, with Jorhat MP and Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi stating that the song conveys the sentiments of Bengali culture. Meanwhile, the Congress leader said he had no idea if any FIR was registered against him. Nobody contacted me, he said.
Assam cabinet approves introduction of Unified Pension Scheme
The Assam cabinet approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) as an option under the National Pension System for state government employees, ensuring old-age security independent of market returns. Additionally, the cabinet sanctioned funds for a flyover in Silchar, climate-resilient rural bridges, and the ASTHA project to enhance tertiary healthcare, including a new Gauhati Medical College and Hospital campus.
Five Bangladeshi students in NIT Silchar suspended for campus violence, to be deported
NIT Silchar has suspended five Bangladeshi students. These students are facing deportation. The reason is their alleged involvement in violent clashes on campus. Authorities also suspect them of possessing narcotics. An investigation revealed their active participation in the violence. The incident occurred on September 8. Some students attacked their compatriots.
Watch: Mizorams first railway in over 75 years: What you need to know
Mizoram is now connected to Indias railway network with its first-ever train. The BairabiSairang railway line, spanning 51.38 km, links Aizawl to Silchar in Assam, cutting travel time from ten hours by road to just three hours by train. Built at a cost of 5,021 crore, the project features 48 tunnels, 55 major bridges, and the iconic Bridge No. 144, taller than the Qutub Minar.
No jobs in railway station yard: Man turned away after disclosing religion
A young Muslim man in Assam has alleged he faced religious discrimination after applying for a mechanical engineer post via the popular job portal Indeed. Shamim Barbhuiya had applied for a job post at a unit in Bihara Railway Station Yard in Silchar through Indeed. The job description stated, Candidate must be Bengali by birth Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
AIZAWL : With the completion of the 51.38-km broad-gauge line from Bairabi to Sairang, Mizoram becomes the fourth Northeastern state to gain direct train connectivity to its capital. This marks a milestone in Indian Railways ambitious plan to link the capitals of all eight Northeastern states with the national rail network. The line, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, connects Bairabi on the AssamMizoram border to Sairang, located 20 km from Aizawl and 12 km from Lengpui Airport. The new Sairang railway station will serve as the key railhead for Aizawl. The project, for which approval was granted in 2008 and construction began in November 2014, has been built at a cost of 8,071 crore. Engineering feat The 51.38-km line, passing through the Kolasib and Aizawl districts, is an engineering feat, with over half its length running through tunnels and bridges. It includes 48 tunnels spanning 12.85 km, 55 major and 87 minor bridges, five road overbridges, and six road underbridges. The line has three intermediate stations at Hortoki, Kawnpui, and Mualkhang. Among the bridges, Bridge No. 144 over the Kurung River near Sairang has earned the distinction of being the worlds second-tallest pier bridge, rising 114 metres above the ground. The tallest is the Noney Bridge in neighbouring Manipur, standing 141 metres tall, which is being built as part of the under-construction 111-km JiribamImphal railway line. World's second tallest pier bridge over Kurung river at Sairang station Challenges faced The railways faced huge challenges in building the BairabiSairang line due to its rugged Indo-Burmese tectonic terrain, marked by steep slopes, deep valleys, and fragile, clay-like soil prone to erosion. Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction), the agency which executed the project, with design and safety aspects reviewed by IIT Guwahati and IIT Roorkee, had to build 223 km of approach roads as well. Reaching construction sites for hill excavation and pier construction was extremely difficult, as there was no road access. NFR (Construction) built 223 km of approach roads, which have since benefitted several villages in Kolasib and Aizawl districts, a railway official explained. In addition to the topographical challenges, the project encountered other obstacles as well, including opposition to workers brought in from other states and the non-availability of construction materials in Mizoram, which meant they had to be transported from Bihar and Jharkhand. To address local resistance, the Railways eventually engaged local people from Mizoram in the construction work. The project progressed at a slow pace due to the regions short working season of just 67 months a year. Despite higher wages, many labourers left the project because of the remote location and lack of internet connectivity at worksites, the official added. Tunnel in BairabiSairang line Expectations Locals in Dawrpui told TNIE that the railway line will help tackle the high cost of road travel from Silchar to Aizawl, which currently costs between Rs 1,200 and Rs 2,000 along the hilly two-lane highway. During the monsoon season, which lasts for more than five months, landslides frequently cut off road access. Flights, too, are unreliable as they often get cancelled due to bad weather, and there are no departures after 4 pm, said Anthony Zohmingliana, a resident. M. Sathish Kumar, a project associate at Mizoram Central University and a resident of Aizawl for 15 years, noted that over 8 lakh of Mizorams 14 lakh population live in and around Aizawl. This project will benefit a large section of the population, reducing dependence on flights and cabs, he said. Joel Lalengmawii of Lengpui said, My family often travels via Silchar to reach Manipur, Punjab, and Kerala. But the 154-km journey to Silchar takes 910 hours by road. We have been told train fares will be cheaper, but only when services begin will we know how much difference it really makes. S. S. Ajin, a PhD student at Mizoram University, said, We mostly rely on flights or road transport. There are times when vegetables and other essentials do not reach the city for a few days due to landslides on the national highways, and there are no other public transport options. Train connectivity will greatly benefit people from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and other states traveling to Mizoram. Once the line becomes operational, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will be able to transport freight for the public distribution system by train, significantly reducing the cost of transporting goods, vegetables, and other items from other states. Initially, passenger services may run between Sairang and Silchar, the railway official added. Rail connectivity to northeast At present, the railway line through Assam's capital, Guwahati, serves as a gateway to the seven other Northeastern states. From Guwahati, branch lines extend to Bairabia station just 7 km inside Mizoram on the SilcharBairabi sectionwhere a passenger train currently runs daily between Bairabi and Silchar. This link to Silchar connects Mizoram with northern and southern states via Guwahati. Additionally, it provides connectivity to Manipur and Nagaland. Guwahati (Assam), Agartala (Tripura), and Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) are the other state capitals with rail connectivity. Work is under way to connect the capitals of Meghalaya, Manipur, Sikkim, and Nagaland. NFR officials said they expect these works to be completed by December 2029. It may be noted that Sikkim remains the only Northeastern state without rail connectivity, mainly due to local opposition. Extending to Myanmar Highlighting plans to develop Sairang station with state-of-the-art facilities, the railway official said the government is also exploring the feasibility of extending the line from Sairang to Myanmar. The proposed route would cover 230 km within Mizoram and the remainder in Myanmar. If realized, this would reduce freight transport from South India to Mizoram via Visakhapatnam and Kolkata ports from 2,000 km to just 500 km, the official explained. Fact File: BairabiSairang Broad Gauge Line New Line: BairabiSairang (51.38 km) Key Locations: Bairabi: Border station on AssamMizoram border Sairang: 20 km from Aizawl, Mizoram Project Cost: Rs 8,071 crore Railway Connectivity in the Northeast Guwahati (Assam): Only railway gateway for all eight Northeastern states Line from Guwahati runs to Bairabi (7 km from Assam border via Silchar) BairabiSilchar (105 km): Daily passenger train operational New Line: SairangSilchar (155 km), passenger services to be introduced Road Access Two-lane National Highway is the only mode of access to Aizawl Travel Cost: Rs 1,000Rs 1,600 per person (Silchar Aizawl) Travel Time: 89 hours by road; train will reduce it to 3 hours States with railway connectivity to capitals Assam Guwahati Tripura Agartala Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar Mizoram Sairang (to be inaugurated)
Mizoram residents hope the new Bairabi-Sairang line brings seamless changes into their life
Travel time between Silchar and Aizawl to be cut from 8-10 hours by road to under four hours by train
PM Modi likely to visit Mizoram, Manipur on September 13
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Mizoram and Manipur on September 13, with preparations underway in both states, officials said. In Mizoram, PM Modi is likely to inaugurate the 51.38-km BairabiSairang railway line, a key infrastructure project under the Centre's Act East Policy aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting economic integration in the Northeast. The new rail link will connect Aizawl with Assams Silchar, and by extension, with the rest of the country. Mizoram Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena held a high-level meeting on Monday to review preparations, including security, traffic control, and public participation. Following his Mizoram visit, the Prime Minister is expected to travel to Manipur, his first trip to the state since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023. However, officials in Imphal said they have not yet received formal confirmation of the visit. 'Lacks empathy': Congress slams PM Modi as he leaves for '35th' trip abroad since start of Manipur ethnic conflict
Eviction drives to be carried out in Barak valley: Himanta
Silchar: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday that eviction drives to clear encroachment on forest land will be undertaken in the Barak valley districts in the same way the exercise is being carried out in the Brahmaputra valley. Speaking at a programme after unveiling a 24-feet-tall statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
CBI arrests 3 in Assam for illegal SIM card racket
One of the three arrested from Silchar in southern Assam is a territorial sales manager for a private telecom company
