Dibrugarh: Union minister and MP Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday reviewed plans to ease traffic congestion and upgrade city infrastructure.The meeting was attended by district commissioner Bikram Kairi, Northeast Frontier Railway’s Tinsukia divisional railway manager Parag Katre, mayor Saikat Patra, deputy mayor Ujjal Phukon and Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation commissioner Shivani Jerngal.Discussions focused on accelerating the construction of a proposed multilevel parking facility on railway land near Dibrugarh Town railway station. The project aims to ease chronic congestion caused in part by roadside parking.Phukon recently met Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi to seek clearance for the complex under a 60:40 revenue-sharing model between Indian Railways and the corporation.“Our top priority is rapid implementation of initiatives that ensure better urban planning, seamless traffic management and maximum convenience for the people of Dibrugarh. As Dibrugarh moves towards becoming the second capital of Assam, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that its infrastructure keeps pace with its growing stature,” Sonowal said.Officials said rising private vehicle ownership and the lack of organised parking made roadside parking common across the city, worsening peak-hour congestion in commercial areas.“This is a long-pending demand of the people of Dibrugarh. With the minister’s intervention today, we are hopeful that the pace of clearance and construction will now pick up considerably,” Phukon said.The meeting also discussed road decongestion and long-term urban planning as the administration prepares for Dibrugarh’s proposed recognition as Assam’s second capital.Civic officials expressed hope that Sonowal’s intervention would expedite the parking project and other infrastructure measures.
