Advantage Assam 2.0: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Announces Assam-Bhutan Railway

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: Union Minister of Electronics & Information Technology and Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw made several announcements on the development of railway infrastructure in the NE, including the Kokrajhar-Gelephu railway line.

The Union Minister said this while attending a thematic session titled “Advancing Semiconductor Horizons in Assam for Viksit Bharat,” in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, organized as a part of the ‘Advantage Assam 2.0 - Investment & Infrastructure Summit at Guwahati today.

The Union Minister said, “The electrification of railway tracks in the NE region is coming to an end and by the end of the year or by March 2026, all electrification will be 100% complete. After the completion of the track electrification, we will be able to run more trains in the region. For you, PM Modiji will sanction two new Amrit Bharat trains within the next 10 months. One Amrit Bharat will start running before Diwali and one after Diwali. Two  more inter-city trains—in between Silchar-Guwahati and Guwahati-Agartala—will be introduced. The new railway line between Assam’s Kokrajhar and Gelephu in Bhutan will boost connectivity between Assam and Bhutan.”

Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology and Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, in his speech, highlighted the Government of India’s commitment to fostering semiconductor research, investment incentives, and technological advancements. He made several significant announcements aimed at enhancing Assam’s infrastructure and economic growth. The announcements include another semiconductor plant to strengthen Assam’s role in India’s semiconductor industry, NEILIT University campus at Jagiroad, and an electronics manufacturing cluster in Kamrup district.

Minister Vaishnaw also announced six Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals to boost logistics and trade, the upgradation of over 60 railway stations across Assam to Amrit Stations, the transformation of Guwahati Railway Station into a state-of-the-art IT Hub, a new railway coach and repair manufacturing hub in Bodoland, a new railway locomotive engine factory at Lumding, and four new railway tracks over the Chicken Neck corridor to improve connectivity.

On the subject of the two new Amrit Bharat trains, the Chief Minister requested the Railway Minister to run a train each to New Delhi from Dibrugarh and Silchar.

Key stakeholders from the government, industry, and academia attended the session aimed to highlight Assam’s semiconductor manufacturing and design ecosystem, emphasizing innovation, infrastructure development, and investment opportunities. Discussion was held about the future of the semiconductor industry in Assam and its role in India’s broader semiconductor strategy. Chief Minister Dr. Sarma, while speaking on the occasion, said that the state is laying the foundation for cutting-edge technology that will shape industries, transform lives, and place Assam on the global semiconductor map.

The Chief Minister said that the state-of-the-art OSAT unit at Jagiroad, developed by Tata Electronics, is set to commence production in 2025, with an impressive capacity to produce over 48 million chips daily using indigenous technologies, is poised to be a game-changer. The project is expected to generate 27,000 direct and indirect jobs, opening doors for local talent, fostering skill development, and inspiring the youth of Assam to dream bigger. He invited the global semiconductor industry to explore the vast opportunities in Assam.

He also thanked Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for his unwavering commitment to fostering an environment where semiconductor manufacturing can thrive, opening remarkable opportunities for Assam.

During the session, the Government of Assam signed MoUs with 10 industry groups from the semiconductor ecosystem across Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan, strengthening international partnerships and fostering investment in the state’s growing semiconductor industry.

Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota, Randhir Thakur, CEO of Tata Electronics, Ajai Chowdhry, Chairman of the National Quantum Mission, Satya Gupta of VLSI Society of India, Chitra Hariharan of Renesas, Dr. M. M. Tripathi, Director, NIELIT and Prof. Shankara Prasad of IIT Guwahati were present at the session.

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