PM unveils welfare projects worth ₹3,222 crore in poll-bound Assam

On his third trip to poll-bound Assam in a month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (February 22) inaugurated a host of development projects, saying the previous governments had given Assam ‘sautela’ (step-motherly) treatment and that the current BJP-led government was working with the Centre to develop the state’s infrastructure.

Modi dedicated three projects worth ₹ 3,222 crore for Assam. He dedicated to the nation projects involving oil and gas sector at an event at Silapathar in Dhemaji. These projects include INDMAX Unit at Indian Oil’s Bongaigaon Refinery, Oil India Limited’s secondary tank farm at Madhuban, Dibrugarh and a gas compressor station at Hebeda village, Makum, Tinsukia.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Dhemaji Engineering College and laid the foundation stone for Sualkuchi Engineering College. “The Dhemaji Engineering College is the first engineering college in North Bank. Three such engineering colleges are also in the pipeline. The Assam government is working at a massive level for such colleges for girls and even polytechnic colleges in the region,” he said.

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“These projects will usher in an era of energy security and prosperity, and open bright avenues of opportunity for the local youth. They are in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Purvodaya to drive eastern India’s socio-economic growth,” he said.

“Assam has everything that is enough for every Assamese. We just need to ensure that the double-engine of development that is already in place is strengthened. I assure the people of Assam that the speed of development will be increased,” he said.

Governor and Chief Minister of Assam, and Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas were present on the occasion.

Also read: Fuel prices reduced by ₹5, liquor duty by 25% in poll-bound Assam

He is due to visit West Bengal later in the day. He will inaugurate extension of Metro Railway from Noapara to Dakshineswar and flag off first service easing out access to Kali temples at Kalighat and Dakshineshwar, a third line between Kalaikunda and Jhargham.

He will also dedicate doubling of Azimganj-Khargrhat Road section, a part of Howrah-Bandel-Azimganj station and a fourth line between Dankuni and Baruipara of Howrah-Bardhaman Chord Line and a third line between Rasulpur and Magra.