Govt correcting 'historical mistakes of neglecting Assam' and its development: PM Modi

PM Modi said that, over the years, BJP’s double engine governments at the Centre and in Assam have tried to reduce both the geographical and cultural distances of the entire region.

“We have built bridges of convenience, opportunities and culture, in keeping with the eternal spirit of the Brahmaputra. Physical and cultural integrity of the entire North East including Assam has been strengthened in the recent years,” Modi said.

He also said that, even in the pre-independence period, Assam was one of the thriving and more prosperous states of the country.

“Even tea and petroleum products reached Chittagong and Kolkata Port, only through the Brahmaputra-Padma-Meghna rivers and railway routes. The connectivity of these networks was the major reason for the prosperity of Assam."

"But after independence, where it was necessary to modernize this infrastructure, they were left it. The waterway was not focused and it was almost got finished. Behind the chaos and unrest in the region, this negligence in development also became a major reason. Atal Bihari Vajpayee started correcting those mistakes made in the history. Now we are expanding further and we have given more momentum. Now, Assam’s development is also a priority and efforts are being made day and night,” the PM said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually launched the Rs 3231 crore ‘Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’ project which includes the Ro-Pax vessel operations between Neamati in Assam’s Jorhat district and river island district Majuli, North Guwahati-South Guwahati and Dhubri-Hatsingimari.

He also inaugurated the Inland Water Transport (IWT) Terminal at Jogighopa and various tourist jetties on river Brahmaputra.

The Ro-Pax operation between Neamati and Majuli will reduce the total distance of 420 km currently being travelled by vehicles to only 12 km, resulting in a substantial impact on the logistics of small-scale industries of the region.

Two indigenously procured Ro-Pax vessels, namely, M.V. Rani Gaidinliu and M.V. Sachin Dev Burman, shall become operational. Introduction of Ro-Pax vessel M.V. J.F.R. Jacob between North and South Guwahati will reduce travelling distance of around 40 km to a mere 3 km. Introduction of M.V. Bob Khathing between Dhubri and Hatsingimari will reduce travelling distance of 220 km to 28 km, thus resulting in a huge saving of travel distance and time.

PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of the Rs 4997 crore Dhubri-Phulbari bridge virtually.

The proposed bridge will be located on NH-127B, originating from Srirampur on NH-27 (East-West Corridor), and terminating at Nongstoin on NH-106 in Meghalaya and it will connect Dhubri in Assam to  Phulbari, Tura, Rongram and Rongjeng in Meghalaya.

It will reduce the distance of 205 km to be travelled by road to 19 km, which is the total length of the bridge.

PM Modi had also performed Bhumi Pujan for the much-awaited two-lane bridge on the river Brahmaputra between Majuli (North Bank) and Jorhat (South Bank).

The bridge will be located on NH-715K and will connect Neematighat (on Jorhat side) and Kamalabari (on Majuli side).

The construction of the bridge has been a long demand of the people of Majuli who for generations have been dependent on the ferry services to connect with the mainland of Assam.

Modi said that not so much work related to connectivity on the Brahmaputra has been done earlier.

“Due to this reason connectivity within Assam and in other areas of the North East has always been a major challenge. Now the projects are fast-tracked to reduce the distances geographically and culturally of this entire region,” PM Modi said.

He also said that work on inland waterways is going to make a major impact here.

“Recently an agreement with Bangladesh to improve water connectivity has been made. Work is underway on the Indo-Bangladesh protocol route across the Hooghly River to connect the Brahmaputra and the Barak River. By connecting the North East with the rest of India, dependence of the region on the narrow connecting part would be reduced. Jogighopa IWT Terminal will 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 river,” PM Modi said.

He also said that his government is working with the vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas’ in the country including in the Northeast.

He also expressed the hope that today’s connectivity related launches will open new avenues of tourism and Assam could emerge as a major destination for cruise tourism.

“We have to work collectively to make Assam, Northeast a strong pillar of Aatmnirbhar Bharat,” Modi said.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Minister of State (I/C) for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mansukh Mandaviya and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal were also present on the occasion.