GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 18 said that with the implementation of connectivity projects worth Rs 9,500 crores, Assam and Northeast region would emerge as the hub of East Asia.
PM Modi launched the Mahabahu-Brahmaputra project to improve inland water transport connectivity, laid the foundation stone of one bridge and performed ground-breaking ceremony (bhumi pujan) of another via video conferencing.
The Prime Minister said that the growth and progress in the Northeast got momentum during the governance of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the present “double engine” government has given further momentum to it.
PM Modi said that waterways would play an important role in connecting the northeastern region with South-east Asian countries. He said that Assam and the Northeast region would further strengthen the initiative for “Aatmnirbhar Bharat”.
To be implemented at a cost of Rs 3,231 crores, the Mahabahu-Brahmaputra project involves the launch of Ro-Pax ferry services at three places on the Brahmaputra, construction of an inland water transport (IWT) terminal, tourist jetties at four places and launch of two e-portals for ease of doing business.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also laid the foundation stone of the four-lane bridge over Brahmaputra between Dhubri in Assam and Phulbari in Meghalaya.
To be constructed at a cost of Rs 5,000 crores, the 19 km long bridge over Brahmaputra will be the longest river bridge in India and is expected to benefit 2 million commuters.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who was present at the event, said that the new projects worth a total of Rs 15,000 crores would make a sea change of connectivity and economy in Assam and other northeastern states.
