Construction of the Kamakhya Access Corridor is likely after Ambubachi as final rehabilitation concerns are being addressed
The proposed Kamakhya Access Corridor project is set to enter the construction phase, with the Assam government indicating that work could begin shortly after the resolution of final grievances raised by residents and business owners likely to be affected by the redevelopment initiative around the Kamakhya Temple atop the Nilachal Hills.
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A high-level meeting was held on June 6 at the Doloi’s office in Kamakhya, attended by Assam minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner Swapneel Paul, project consultants, PWD officials, representatives of L&T and local stakeholders, reviewed concerns relating to relocation, compensation, rehabilitation and livelihood protection. Authorities said the grievance redressal process is nearing completion and is expected to conclude within a week, potentially clearing the way for construction to commence after the annual Ambubachi Mela.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Minister Mallabaruah said, “Local residents and several stakeholders had raised objections regarding the project and its potential impact on nearby shops and establishments. The process of resolving these issues is now nearing its final stage and it may take another week.”
To address concerns regarding the identification and restoration of affected commercial establishments, the administration has proposed geotagging all shops within the project area. “We will geotag the shops. There is absolutely nothing to worry about,” the Deputy Commissioner said, according to attendees.
Individuals present at the meeting told GPlus that the administration has proposed monthly compensation ranging from ₹20,000 to ₹50,000 from the time possession of shops and properties is taken until they are returned after completion of the project. However, residents and business owners demanded higher compensation amounts. In response, Mallabaruah assured stakeholders that their concerns would be placed before Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for further consideration.
To minimise disruption to religious activities and local commerce, the government has proposed allowing certain establishments to continue operating during the construction phase. These include shops selling flowers, prasad, and other ritual offerings that cater to the daily needs of devotees visiting the temple. Officials said the objective is to ensure that temple activities continue uninterrupted and that pilgrims retain access to essential items throughout the project period.
The project is also expected to require the temporary relocation of families residing within the corridor alignment zone. District administration estimates indicate that around 15 families will be directly affected by land acquisition and redevelopment works. Of these, nine families have sought temporary accommodation from the government, while six have opted to stay with relatives during the construction period.
PWD officials, in coordination with the district administration, are working on interim rehabilitation arrangements. Sources present at the meeting told GPlus that affected families will either be provided with temporary shelter or housing allowances until permanent rehabilitation housing is constructed at nearby locations. Authorities have maintained that rehabilitation sites will be located close to existing settlement areas to ensure continuity of social and economic networks.
Providing a timeline for the project, a PWD official told GPlus, “Once the work commences, the temple corridor project will take about 2 years time for completion.”
Some residents also requested permission to remain in their properties until construction reaches their specific parcels. However, officials clarified that handing over the entire project area to the executing agency at the outset is standard practice and necessary to avoid delays in implementation.
Another major concern raised during the meeting was the movement of devotees and residents during construction. Locals sought assurances that access to the temple would remain unaffected throughout the project period.
Responding to these concerns, both the minister and the DC assured stakeholders that movement to and from the temple would continue without disruption. The administration stated that detailed provisions for visitor movement, transportation of goods, and supply of temple essentials have already been incorporated into the project design.
“We have clearly mapped out the easement plan in the project itself,” Mallabaruah said. “Provisions have been made for temporary and permanent easement,” he added.
Despite these assurances, residents demanded that all commitments regarding compensation, rehabilitation, access arrangements, and property restoration be formalised through a written agreement.
Stakeholders have requested a detailed point-by-point document outlining the government's obligations during and after project implementation.
The Circle Officer and the Doloi (traditional head priest of the temple administration), have been tasked with coordinating with residents to address grievances and facilitate the formalisation of agreements
During the meeting, Mallabaruah appealed for the cooperation of residents to enable timely completion of the project and early restoration of properties to their owners. He asked stakeholders to submit all grievances within a week through the Circle Officer and the Doloi so that construction can begin at the earliest, possibly after the annual Ambubachi Mela.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Guwahati in early July, during which the Kamakhya corridor project is expected to come under review as part of broader infrastructure initiatives in the region.
The Maa Kamakhya Divya Pariyojana, also known as the Maa Kamakhya Access Corridor, was sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) scheme at a cost of ₹498.37 crore, with the PWD as the implementing agency. Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for the project on February 4, 2024.
Speaking about the project during the foundation ceremony, the Prime Minister had stated that the corridor would significantly improve ease of access and comfort for devotees while boosting footfall at the revered Shakti Peeth.
According to a 3D concept video released by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in April 2023, the redeveloped corridor will feature wider access roads and stairways, larger public spaces, improved accessibility for elderly and differently abled visitors, and dedicated areas for gardens and tree plantations.
Meanwhile, a ropeway connecting Kamakhya Railway Station and Kamakhya Temple is being developed under the ‘Parvatmala: National Ropeways Development Programme’. The project is being implemented by National Highway Logistics Management Limited (NHLML).
The 1.43-kilometre ropeway, being constructed at an estimated cost of ₹213 crore, is designed to handle approximately 16,500 passengers daily. The facility is expected to provide an alternative route between the temple and the railway station while easing travel for lakhs of devotees.
The corridor project had earlier faced delays due to two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed before the Gauhati High Court over concerns relating to the shrine’s associated temples, caves, and sacred underground water systems. The court cleared the project in February after studies conducted by the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee, and vetted by IIT Guwahati found no major impediments.
Subsequently, IIT Guwahati recommended strict adherence to depth restrictions identified during hydrological and geophysical surveys, cautioning that any deviation could potentially disturb groundwater pathways beneath the Nilachal Hills.