Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: In between 2019-20 and 2023-24, Assam received funding under externally aided projects (EAPs) to the tune of nearly 2,600 million USD, apart from 50 million Euros and 45,605 million Japanese Yen for various infrastructure projects.
The funding was primarily received from international funding agencies like the New Development Bank (NDB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
To receive funding from international funding agencies, the state government concerned has to approach the Government of India, which then takes up the proposals on a priority basis.
The financial-year-wise funding approved for different projects in Assam: 2019-20 – Assam Bridge Project (300 million USD from NDB), Assam Project on Forest & Biodiversity Conservation (50 million Euros from France), and Assam Inland Water Transport Project (85 million USD from IBRD).
In 2020-21: Assam Intra-State Transmission System Enhancement Project (304 million USD from AIIB) and Assam Power Sector Investment Program-Project 3 (231 million USD from ADB).
In 2021-22: Assam Skill University Project (112 million USD from ABD), Medical Education and Research Department – Assam (43,434 million Yen from Japan), and Medical Education and Research Department – Assam (2,171 million Yen from Japan).
2022-23: Assam Electricity Distribution System Enhancement & Loss Reduction Project (386 million USD from AIIB), Assam Secondary Road Network Improvement Project (320 million USD from AIIB), Assam South Asia Sub-regional Economic Corridor Connectivity Improvement (300 million USD from ADB).
In 2023-24: Assam Integrated River Basin Management Project-Phase 1 (108 million USD from IBRD), Assam State Secondary Healthcare Initiative for Service Delivery Transformation (ASSIST) Project (251.03 million USD from IBRD) and Climate Resilient Brahmaputra Integrated Floor and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Project-Assam (200 million USD from ADB).
This shows that a total of 14 projects were approved for funding from different international funding agencies during 2019-20 to 2023-24. Funding agencies release funds in a phase-wise manner as the projects progress.
It should be noted that the under-construction Guwahati-North Guwahati bridge over the Brahmaputra River is funded by NDB.
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