State to get its longest flyover built at 800 crore tomorrow

Guwahati: Assam’s longest flyover, named after 13th-century Kamarupa ruler Maharaja Prithu, will be inaugurated on Tuesday.The 5.4-km-long flyover intersects the existing Anandaram Barua flyover at Chandmari in the city, where a temporary lotus-shaped structure has been installed for the opening.

The Anandaram Barua flyover leads to RG Baruah Road.PWD (roads) chief engineer Sanjiv Shyam said, “The flyover is complete and all set for inauguration on March 10. The flower shaped structure at the round-about at the intersection point of the bridges is temporary. No fountain will be installed as it is not feasible.”He said a statue of Maharaja Prithu —— known for defeating Turko-Afghan invader Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1206 — may be placed at the round-about in the future, subject to govt decision.

He added that finishing touches were being given to the flyover on Sunday and some minor work under the flyover was pending, which would be completed by before inauguration.On Jan 29, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, while talking about naming the flyover after Maharaja Prithu, said historical evidence on how Maharaja Prithu fought against the Muslim invasion can be found in North Guwahati. He had said that Maharaja Prithu resisted the first Muslim invasion here and the Ahom General Lachit Borphukan finally defeated them in the battle of Saraighat.Meanwhile, vehicular movement on the Kumar Bhaskar Verma bridge over the Brahmaputra began on Sunday. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the bridge on Feb 14.