GUWAHATI: Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced the development of six new Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals in Assam, along with several railway projects aimed at boosting connectivity and industrial growth. The announcement was made at the Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit in Guwahati.
The six new cargo terminals will be set up at Chaygaon, New Bongaigaon, Bihara, Hilara, Baihata, and Rangjuli, further strengthening the state’s railway network. Vaishnaw also confirmed that a new Vande Bharat Express will soon connect Guwahati and Agartala, while two Amrit Bharat Express trains linking Guwahati with Delhi and Chennai will be launched this year.
To enhance railway infrastructure, the minister announced a railway engine midlife remanufacturing facility in Lumding and a Wagon Workshop at Bashbari in Assam, with a total investment of Rs. 300 crore.
In a major push to the electronics sector, Vaishnaw unveiled plans for a Greenfield Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at Bongora, Kamrup, under the Electronics Manufacturing Scheme, with an investment of Rs. 120 crore. Additionally, the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) has been upgraded to a Deemed-to-be University, with a new campus planned in Jagiroad.
The minister said that a semiconductor factory will be set up in Assam, and Guwahati Railway Station will be turned into a center for IT jobs and businesses.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to infrastructure development, Vaishnaw described the Northeast as the “New Engine” of India’s growth. He noted that since 2014, 1,824 km of new railway tracks have been constructed in Assam and the Northeast. Two Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals at Moinarband and Cinnamara have already been commissioned.
Vaishnaw talked about plans to improve transport between Assam and Bhutan, which will help create more jobs and businesses. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked the central government for helping the state's industries grow faster.