Centre Ready to pump funds to Assam under NESIDS

* Railway overbridge project in Jorhat gets DONER Ministry’s nod

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Aug 21: The Centre is all set to pump funds to Assam under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) by recommending the first-ever project for sanction under the new scheme.

Out of nine projects submitted by the Assam Government under the NESIDS, the DONER Ministry has recommended the project of constructing a railway overbridge in Jorhat at the cost of Rs 77 crore for sanction. The eight other projects of Assam on the development of infrastructures, tourism and others at an estimated cost of Rs 305 crore are also under active consideration for sanction by the DONER Ministry.

The Centre has proposed to pump funds to the tune of Rs 1,600 crore under the NESIDS for three years from financial years of 2017-18 to 2019-20. The scheme is aimed at funding projects to fill up the gap in the creation of physical infrastructures relating to water supply, power, connectivity and especially projects promoting tourism; and social sector projects relating to the creation of infrastructure for education and health in the Northeast. Funds under the NESIDS will be through the DONER Ministry and all projects will be fully sponsored by the Centre.

Prior to NESIDS, no project for the NE States is funded 100 per cent by the Centre. Majority of projects were sponsored on the 90:10 funding pattern. The Centre has now asked Assam and the other NE States to submit projects worth Rs 20 crore or more under the NESIDS. Besides the railway overbridge project in Jorhat, the Centre recently recommended five other projects for the NE States for sanction under NESIDS that will cost Rs 272.31 crore.

Sources in the State Transformation and Development Department, formerly known as the Planning & Development Department which prepares projects for NESIDS, said Assam is hoping for receiving the lion’s share of Rs 1,600 crore under the new scheme.