Ahead of their official opening on Sunday, the newly built flyovers at Rukminigaon and Supermarket in Guwahati will be named Bhagadatta II and Bhagadatta I, respectively, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.
Speaking to the media during a visit to Baksa district, Sarma stated that the decision to name the flyovers after the ancient ruler was in response to long-standing demands from the Kalita community. “King Bhagadatta, son of Narakasura, was a king of ancient Kamrup. There has been a long-standing demand from the Kalita community to honour him. We hope this will remind everyone of our rich cultural heritage while serving the practical purpose of easing traffic,” the Chief Minister said.
The Rukminigaon flyover, measuring 950 metres in length, has been constructed in nine months at a cost of Rs 111 crore. It is one of several infrastructure projects aimed at easing traffic flow in key areas of the city.
The decision to associate the new infrastructure with a historical figure from the region reflects the government’s stated interest in integrating cultural heritage with civic development. Both flyovers are set to be inaugurated on 6 July.
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