Nod For Rs 28,000 Crore Major Schemes To Be Funded By World Bank In Assam

GUWAHATI: Assam is poised to witness the implementation of several major multi-crore-rupee development projects to be funded by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The projects worth around Rs 28,000 crore is currently at various pre-commencement stages.

While the Niti Aayog has already approved in principle the Rs 1,400-crore Assam Municipal Development project to be funded by the World Bank; the Rs 4,000-crore Assam Road Network Improvement project to be funded by the ADB has been sent to the Ministries of DoNER and Ministry of Transport and Highways for approval.

The detailed project report (DPR) of the Rs 3,200-crore Assam Power Distribution Enhancement System has also been sent to the DONER Ministry for approval. The ADB will fund the project.

The Rs 720-crore International Circuit Development Project in the tourism segment to be funded by the ADB has already been cleared by the Ministry of External Affairs. It has also got no-objection from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Rs 3,400-crore Assam Fishery Development and Livelihood Project has been included in the rolling plan of JICA.

Apart from these projects, a Rs 2,740-crore Man-Elephant Resolution Project, a Rs 100-crore Road Safety Corridor from Jalukbari to Khanapara in Guwahati, Rs 2,875-crore project for Strengthening of Health System and Medical Education, Rs 1,767-crore project for Wetland Conservation and Protection, Rs 3,284-crore project for Assam Power Distribution Enhancement, Rs 900-crore project for MSME Cluster Development etc at different stages of approval.

Since Assam performed extremely well in the execution of the projects earlier funded by external agencies such as the World Bank and the ADB, the State is confident of getting sanction for all these new projects.

Official sources said since the per capita development expenditure of Assam is much below the national average, the externally-aided projects (EAPs) can make a significant impact in accelerating the pace of development in sectors like health, agriculture, forest, road connectivity, urban water supply, power, water resource etc. Recently, the State government requested the Prime Minister for giving the right push to these projects from the Centre.

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