CM Himanta Announces Assam’s Longest Flyover in Guwahati to be Named After Maharaja Prithu

On August 23, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made two key announcements of historical and administrative significance.

The first announcement pertained to naming Assam’s longest flyover in Guwahati. The GNB Road flyover, which spans 4423.20 meters (4.4 km) and is a four-lane structure constructed under the state’s Public Works (Roads) Department, will now bear the name of Maharaja Prithu of Kamarupa. The Chief Minister stated that this decision was taken to honour the legacy of courage and resistance embodied by the ancient Assamese ruler.

In his official statement posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), CM Sarma recalled the bravery of Maharaja Prithu, who resisted Bakhtiyar Khilji, the invader notorious for destroying Nalanda University, one of the greatest symbols of India’s ancient civilisation. Sarma noted that Khilji had believed the destruction of Nalanda would break the spirit of India, but Maharaja Prithu rose against him in Assam’s sacred soil, fought valiantly, and ultimately struck him down, thereby avenging the desecration of Indian heritage.

The Chief Minister added that naming the state’s longest flyover after Maharaja Prithu would serve as a timeless reminder of Assam’s role as the defender of Bharat’s soul, highlighting its historic responsibility in safeguarding the cultural and spiritual essence of India.

The second major announcement was related to the issuance of Aadhaar cards in Assam. The Assam Cabinet has decided that, for the next one year, no new Aadhaar cards will be issued to individuals above the age of 18, except for those belonging to three specific groups: the Scheduled Castes (SC), the Scheduled Tribes (ST), and the tea garden communities.

This measure, as explained by CM Sarma in a press conference, has been introduced as a preventive step against illegal immigration. The government fears that undocumented immigrants residing in the state could misuse the Aadhaar system to obtain false identification documents, thereby making illegitimate claims to Indian citizenship.

To further clarify the rule, the Chief Minister said that if any individual from other castes or communities, who is above 18 years of age, has not yet enrolled for Aadhaar, they will be granted a special window during the month of September to apply for it. After this period, the suspension will continue for a year, and no further Aadhaar enrolments for these categories will be entertained until the suspension is lifted.

This decision is aligned with the state’s larger policy of tackling issues related to illegal migration, which has been a sensitive and politically significant matter in Assam for decades. The state government believes restricting Aadhaar issuance will reduce the chances of fraudulent citizenship claims by foreign nationals who may have entered Assam illegally.

Together, the announcements reflect two key priorities of the Assam government under CM Sarma’s leadership: preserving and honouring Assam’s historical legacy, as seen in the recognition of Maharaja Prithu, and safeguarding the state’s demographic and citizenship integrity, as reflected in the Aadhaar restriction policy.