Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated and laid the foundation stones of projects worth ₹18,530 crore on the second day of his visit to Assam.
He started the day by unveiling project worth ₹6,500 crore in Darrang which included the foundation stone ceremony of the construction of Darrang Medical College and Hospital, GNM School, and the B.Sc. Nursing College in the district. Furthermore, he also laid the foundation for the Guwahati Ring Road Project.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated the people of Darrang and Assam on what he termed as a ‘historic day’ of Assam’s development journey. “India is currently the fastest-growing country in the world and Assam has emerged as one of the fastest-growing States in the nation. There was a time when Assam lagged behind in development and struggled to keep pace with the rest of the country. However, today Assam is advancing with a growth rate of nearly 13 per cent.”
Stressing that the Government is working with the vision of making Assam a growth engine of India’s development, the Prime Minister remarked, “Union & State Governments are developing Assam as one of the most connected States and as a leading healthcare hub.”
The Prime Minister also pointed out that in Assam, there were only six medical colleges before 2014 but now with the Darrang Medical College, the State will have 24 such institutions. “The establishment of medical colleges not only improves healthcare infrastructure but also provides more opportunities for youth to become doctors.”
He also asserted that the new ring road will bring significant benefits to the people, “Once completed, vehicles heading towards upper Assam will no longer need to enter the city, easing urban traffic congestion. The ring road will connect five national highways, two State highways, one airport, three railway stations, and one inland water terminal. This will mark the creation of Assam’s first seamless multi-modal connectivity network.”
Later during the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Assam Bioethanol Plant and laid foundation stone for polypropylene plant at Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) at Golaghat. Both the projects are aimed at promoting clean energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels,
Highlighting Assam as a land that strengthens India’s energy capabilities, the Prime Minister said, “Petroleum products originating from Assam contribute significantly to the nation’s development. India is currently the fastest growing major economy in the world. As the country progresses, the demand for electricity, gas, and fuel is also rising. India has long been dependent on foreign sources for these energy needs, importing large quantities of crude oil and gas. As a result, the nation has had to pay lakhs of crores of rupees annually to other countries, which in turn boosts employment and income abroad. This situation needed to be changed, India has now embarked on the path of becoming self-reliant in meeting its energy requirements.”
The Prime Minister announced that the Government will support local farmers in cultivating bamboo and will also procure it directly, “Small units related to bamboo chipping will be established in the region and approximately ₹200 cr will be spent annually in this sector. This single plant will benefit thousands of people in the area.”
“Assam has received the gift of a modern polypropylene plant which will strengthen the foundation of ‘Make in Assam’ and ‘Make in India’, and will also boost other manufacturing industries in the region,” Prime Minister affirmed. Polypropylene is used to manufacture carpets, ropes, bags, fibres, masks, medical kits, and textiles and also plays a vital role in the automotive sector as well as in producing medical and agricultural equipment.
