Guwahati, Jan 12: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the Integrated Judicial Court Complex at Rangmahal in Kamrup district of Assam. The ceremony was attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, judges of the Supreme Court and the Gauhati High Court, and other dignitaries.

The project, to be developed on 148 bighas of land at an estimated cost of Rs 1,700 crore, will house the new Gauhati High Court building along with advocates’ chambers, administrative offices, and courts for Kamrup and Kamrup Metropolitan districts. The complex will also include parking facilities and amenities such as an auditorium, hospital, cafeteria, and green spaces.

According to officials, the judicial complex will initially have 31 courtrooms, with provision to expand up to 46. It will provide seating for around 4,000 lawyers and incorporate digital infrastructure, including tools such as augmented reality and virtual reality for remote case presentations.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the existing Gauhati High Court building was no longer adequate to meet future requirements. He said the new complex was aimed at modernising judicial infrastructure in the state. Sarma also referred to the role of former Gauhati High Court Chief Justices Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi in the selection of the site and finalisation of the design, which was approved after consultations with judges, including Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan.

On concerns raised by some advocates regarding the relocation of the court complex, Sarma pointed to upcoming infrastructure projects, including a new bridge over the Brahmaputra expected to be inaugurated in February, which is projected to reduce travel time from Fancy Bazar to Rangmahal to about 8–9 minutes. Other proposed projects, such as the Narengi–Kuruwa bridge and a trumpet interchange, were also cited as factors that would improve connectivity.

The first phase of the project, estimated to cost Rs 480 crore, is expected to be completed within 24 months.

The event was attended virtually by former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. Union Minister of State for Law Arjun Ram Meghwal and several senior judicial officers were also present.