Assam govt to undertake developmental projects worth ₹ 10,000 crore; Find details here

Guwahati: After months of crippling effect on the economy due to the COVID-19 virus, Assam's health, education, and finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today announced a slew of developmental projects to be taken up by the Government of Assam in the coming few months ahead of the all-important Assembly polls.

Sarma also announced a slew of developmental projects estimated to cost the state exchequer around ₹ 10,000 crores. "This is the highest capital investment taken up by the Government of Assam, and the works are expected to begin in December of this year," he said, adding, "before March, we plan to build projects worth ₹ 11,900 crore, and the projects will be taken up on a time-line basis."

He said that the construction of 4 medical colleges shall also be started soon. "These will be in Charaideo, Biswanath Chariali, and Goalpara. In addition, we have resolved to start a new medical college in Guwahati by combining the MMCH and Kalapahar TB Hospital, which will be the largest medical college in the entire Northeast", Sarma said, adding that the Government has allocated funds to the tune of ₹ 2,500 for the development of this upcoming project.

This new medical college will be 12-storeys high and will face the mighty Brahmaputra river, the Minister said.

Himanta Biswa Sarma added that the construction work on 9 women's colleges spread across Assam will be kickstarted within the next 45 days.

He further added that work will also begin on 10 new law colleges in Assam. "This has already been approved by the government, and the construction work will begin by December 31. The cost incurred will be ₹ 33 crore."

Announcing the construction of a new flyover in Guwahati's Maligaon Chariali, Sarma said that this new flyover will connect to the new route towards the historic 'Kamakhya' temple. "The work on this flyover estimated to cost around ₹ 420.75 crores will begin within the next few days."

Sarma also said that another flyover will be constructed in Tezpur's Mission Chariali at a cost of ₹ 320.41 crores.

Sarma also announced that 55,000 hemodialysis sessions have been arranged by the government under the Prime Minister's scheme. The Minister today said that the cost-free hemodialysis shall also be added to 20 more hospitals in Assam so that more kidney patients can avail of the facility.

"This entire process will take 60 more days, but in the next 60 days, we intend to start free hemodialysis sessions in these hospitals," Sarma said.

The Assam State government has also taken up an ambitious project to upgrade all State highway entitled 'Assam Mala' which will improve the connectivity in the state, the minister opined. This will include the construction of a bridge that will connect Majuli with Lakhimpur.

Himanta Biswa Sarma also announced that many roads will also be built by the government in the upcoming period as it ramps up developmental activities after a months-long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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