Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Centre has taken up various developmental projects to correct the historical mistakes of neglecting Assam.
He underlined the Centre’s commitment to infrastructure development in the State while virtually launching ‘Mahabahu Brahmaputra’, a package of multi-modal water connectivity projects that includes a 19.282 km bridge to be India’s longest across a river.
“Assam was one of the States giving the highest revenues. Those days, petroleum products and tea used to reach the Chittagong port (in present-day Bangladesh) and Kolkata via Brahmaputra, Padma and Meghna rivers and the railway. Connectivity was the reason behind Assam’s prosperity. But after independence, when this infrastructure was supposed to be modernised, Assam was left to its fate,” Mr. Modi said.
He said negligence almost killed the waterways in Assam until former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee began correcting the mistakes. The State’s development is now on the Centre’s priority, he added.
“Connectivity remained a challenge because work on connectivity via the Brahmaputra did not happen. Now, work is being expedited. Over the past few years, the double engines of Assam and Central government tried to reduce the geographical and cultural distances. The physical and cultural integrity of Assam and the Northeast was strengthened in the years gone by. Whether it is Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Setu, Bogibeel Bridge, Saraighat Bridge or others, many such bridges have eased the life of Assam. They strengthened the country’s security and provided great convenience to the soldiers,” Mr. Modi said.
He alluded to a recent agreement with Bangladesh for improving water connectivity in the Northeast.
“Work is under way on the India-Bangladesh protocol route across river Hooghly to connect rivers Brahmaputra and Barak. By connecting the Northeast with the rest of India, dependence of the region on the narrow connecting part would be reduced,” the PM said.
He said the Jogighopa Inland Water Transport Terminal would strengthen an alternative route to connect Assam with Haldia Port and Kolkata through a waterway. Bhutan and Bangladesh cargoes at this terminal and cargoes at Jogighopa Multi-Modal Logistics Park would get facilities for movement to different places on the Brahmaputra.
Reiterating his thrust on digital India, the Prime Minsiter said the first data centre of Northeast would come up in Guwahati with investment of hundreds of crores of rupees. He said this would serve as a data centre hub for the entire region and the IT service-based industry, BPO ecosystem and startups would be strengthened through e-governance.
The Brahmaputra projects for which Mr. Modi laid the foundation stones included the Dhubri (Assam)-Phulbari (Meghalaya) bridge spanning 19.282 km and a bridge connecting the “island” district of Majuli with the mainland.
