As 2025 comes to a close, the Barak Valley region of Assam is grappling with widespread public frustration and political scrutiny. A host of major infrastructure projects, promised over several years, have failed to move beyond the planning stage, with not a single flagship initiative seeing completion this year.
Key Projects Stuck in Limbo
The list of delayed ventures is extensive and critical for the region's growth. The long-awaited Silchar flyover remains a dream on paper. Similarly, a proposed logistics park and a crucial terminal for the Numaligarh Refinery at Panchgram, planned on land belonging to the defunct Cachar Paper Mill of HPCL, are yet to take off. Ambitious plans to develop Son Beel as a tourism hub and establish new rail connectivity between Silchar and Sairang in Mizoram are also in a state of suspension.
Two major national corridor projects are facing significant delays. The completion of the Dima Hasao stretch of the East-West Corridor is still pending, though the state government has set a new deadline of January 2026. The 166.80-km Greenfield High-Speed Corridor (NH-6), planned from Mawlyngkhung near Shillong to Panchgram near Silchar under a hybrid annuity model, is also awaiting substantial progress.
Daily Struggles and Failed Promises
The stagnation of large projects is compounded by the deteriorating condition of existing infrastructure. Road connectivity across the Barak Valley has become a major public concern. Internal roads are in a dilapidated state, and work under the national Bharatmala Project is alleged to be moving at a snail's pace, causing daily hardship for commuters. Links between Silchar and neighbouring Mizoram, as well as with Dima Hasao, are described as particularly poor.
Other civic projects are mired in controversy. Silchar's ongoing drainage project faces allegations of slow execution and substandard quality, failing to solve the chronic problem of urban flooding. Furthermore, initiatives under the Jal Jeevan Mission in both urban and rural areas have not alleviated the drinking water crisis. Residents of Silchar complain that the supplied water is often muddy and foul-smelling, raising serious questions about its safety for consumption.
Election Year Looms as a Deadline
With 2025 ending without tangible outcomes, public patience is wearing thin. The collective disappointment has triggered strong criticism from resident groups and civil society organizations. All eyes are now on 2026, which carries a dual significance. It is not only a deadline year for some of these projects but also the year of the Assam assembly elections.
This political context is fueling hopes among the electorate that the impending polls will finally push political leaders and administrators to convert stalled promises into on-ground reality. The unmet infrastructure demands of the Barak Valley are poised to become a central issue in the electoral battle, with voters seeking accountability for years of delays.
