Guwahati, July 11 (IANS): The central government has accepted an Assam government proposal for a Metro rail project in Guwahati, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said Thursday while interacting with the media.

He added that the central government had sanctioned an amount of Rs.25 crore for the feasibility study of the ambitious project and the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Gogoi said the first phase of the project will cover a distance of 65 km in Guwahati, connecting the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport to Narengi in the city.

"The second phase of the project will cover the stretch between Paltan Bazar to Khanapara area of the city, while the third will cover a stretch between Khanapara area to Jalukbari area of the city," Gogoi said, adding that the whole project was likely to cost Rs.14,000 crore.

An enthusiastic Gogoi, however, said that it would take time for the completion of the project.

"It normally takes five to six years to study the feasibility of the project and prepare the DPR. In Assam, it could take more time as we have less working days because of rain. However, we are going to make it as fast as possible," the chief minister said.

Gogoi said that once the project was complete, the ever-increasing traffic congestion in Guwahati would ease.

He added that the state government was also laying stress on developing a river transport system in and around the state.

"We have been neglecting river transport, although there is huge potential to develop it," he said.

He also said that the government was planning to develop small townships around Guwahati to lessen the inflow of people into the city.

"We are looking forward to develop small townships around Guwahati. With this, some mass rapid transport system will also be developed from these small townships to Guwahati. This will help lessen the population pressure on Guwahati, the capital city of Assam," he said, adding that the state government had asked an Ahmedabad-based institute of urban planning to help with proper planning in this regard.