The central government has approved a new scheme to promote biogas production in the country. This scheme is called "Gobardhan." On Thursday, the Union Cabinet approved this scheme, with a total cost of approximately ₹23,731 crore. The government also took several other important decisions.

When will this scheme be implemented?

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav spoke to reporters after the cabinet meeting. The 'Gobardhan' scheme will be implemented from 2026-27 to 2035-36. The scheme aims to make compressed biogas (CBG) a major source of energy for the country's future. Under this scheme, agricultural waste, cattle dung, sugarcane bagasse, urban organic waste, and other biomass resources will be converted into clean fuel, organic fertilizer, rural income, and national economic value.

The government said the scheme will provide a strong and clear framework for national expansion of the compressed biogas sector through measures such as firm demand, attractive and stable prices, capital assistance, pipeline infrastructure, credit support and technology development.

The government also decided that
the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for the development of the 135.871 km long Guwahati-Tezpur corridor on National Highway-15 in Assam at a cost of ₹8,970.20 crore. This four-lane highway project will be developed on the 'Build-Operate-Transfer' (BOT) toll model.

The project, which will involve the construction of a 4.9-km-long Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the Tezpur bypass, has been finalized in coordination with the Indian Air Force. This will ease traffic congestion on the existing National Highway 27 south of the Brahmaputra River.

The project will construct five major bypasses to ease congestion in densely populated areas such as Baihata Chariali, Sipazar, Kharupetia, Dekiajuli, and Tezpur. Additionally, the project includes the construction of 15 major bridges, 30 minor bridges, 19 flyovers, an elephant underpass on the Tezpur bypass, and 46 other underpasses.

The government stated that the construction of this corridor will increase average travel speeds by 100 percent and reduce travel time by half. This will improve road safety and reduce operating costs. The project will provide better connectivity to major economic, social, and logistics hubs in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

PC: Hindi Vaartha