Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma dedicated the Fancy Bazar Foot over bridge to the service of the people at a function held at Fancy Bazar in Guwahati on Wednesday.

It may be noted that the Fancy Bazar foot over bridge is the 8th of the high tech over bridges in Guwahati city constructed with a financial out lay of Rs. 1659.57 lakh.

The total length of the bridge is 73.93 metre. PWRD, East Guwahati Territorial Road division is the executing agency of the bridge.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarma said that development of infrastructure is one of the priorities of the State government.

He said that to lend safety to the pedestrians, his government took the decision to construct the foot over bridges across the city with an eye to aid to convenience of the pedestrians of all age groups.

He said that along with the construction, responsibility for maintenance of the lifts and escalators along with cleanliness of the foot over bridges have been given to the respective parties.

Sarma also asked the PWD to allot the maintenance contract, if the same has not been given to anybody.

Giving a snapshot of various infrastructure projects in Guwahati city, Chief Minister Sarma said that under the initiative of the present government flyovers at GS Road near Super Market at Dispur and Aryanagar were completed.

He said that another bridge over the Brahmaputra connecting Guwahati and North Guwahati being constructed involving a project cost of Rs. 2608 crore, has achieved 66 per cent success.

He also said that for enhancing the utility of the bridge, a project of trumpet junction at Gauripur point of National Highway at North Guwahati has been approved for Rs. 332.59 crore.

The Assam Chief Minister also said that the flyovers being constructed at Maligaon and R.G. Barua Road at Zoo achieved considerable progress.

He also said that project preparations are going on for the flyover and Rail Over Bridge at GS Road near Down Town Hospital, at Fatasil Chariali, at GS Road near Rajiv Bhawan, at the locations of elephant corridors on Rani-Kainadhara road, across Deepor Beel between Swahid Smarak and Kainadhara Road and ROB across the railway line at Bharalumukh.

Sarma said that the foot over bridge he inaugurated at Fancy Bazar would add beauty to the area and augur well for the city before the G20 meet.

Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Ashok Singhal, MLA East Guwahati Siddhartha Bhattacharya also spoke at the programme which was also attended among others by Mayor GMC Mrigen Sarania, Chairman GMDA Narayan Deka.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)