Assam and its people received one of their biggest gifts on Rongali Bihu, which coincides with the Assamese New Year on April 14, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted them development projects worth ₹ 10,900 crore by laying their foundation stones and dedicating them to the nation. He did so from the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati, where he also witnessed a historic Bihu performance by over 11,000 nasonis (dancers) and dhulias (drummers).
Among the largesse are foundation stone of a bridge connecting Palashbari and Sualkuchi on the Brahmaputra River; beautification of Rang Ghar in Sivasagar; a 500 TPD Methanol Plant in Namrup and five railway projects.
While addressing the gathering, he recalled his visit to the State during the State Assembly elections in 2016 when he had remarked about the day when people will voice ‘A for Assam’ and said that the State is finally becoming an A-One State.
The Prime Minister expressed his happiness about these projects besides opening of an All India Institute of Medical Science and three medical colleges.
Mr Modi said that it is his belief in the people of the country that motivates his Government to strive to remove any obstacles that come in the way of the welfare of citizens of India.
He recalled that for a very long time, connectivity was thought of in a very narrow sense of going from one point to the other. The Prime Minister said that that approach towards connectivity has changed now. “Today, connectivity is a four-pronged enterprise (Mahayagya),” he said, terming them as — physical connectivity, digital connectivity, social connectivity, and cultural connectivity.
He said that his Government was addressing the issue of a lack of physical connectivity in the North East by focusing on road, rail and air connectivity.
Highlighting the achievements in expanding connectivity since 2014 when he became the Prime Minister of the country for the first time, Mr Modi mentioned all-road connectivity to most of the villages in the North East, new airports where commercial flights are landing for the first time, broad gauge trains reaching Manipur and Tripura, new rail lines being laid three times faster than before, and the doubling of rail lines at a pace which is almost 10 times faster than before. The Prime Minister highlighted that the five railway projects inaugurated on the day will have investment over ₹ 6,000 cr.
The Prime Minister said that for development, the thread of trust should be equally strong. “Due to the efforts of our Government, there is permanent peace everywhere in the North East now. Many youths have left the path of violence and started walking on the path of development. The atmosphere of mistrust in the North East is going away, the distance between hearts is disappearing,” he said, while concluding, “In order to build a developed India in the Amrit Kaal of Independence, we have to enhance this atmosphere. We must move forward with the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas.”
