STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Jan 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday strongly criticised previous Congress governments for giving low budget for the railway networks in Assam.
He said, “When Congress in power at the Centre, Assam received only about ₹2,000 crore in the rail budget, whereas under his government this has been increased to nearly ₹10,000 crore annually—five times more.”
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PM Modi stated that this enhanced investment has led to large-scale infrastructure development, with new rail lines, doubling and electrification boosting railway capacity and passenger facilities.
The Prime Minister announced the launch of three new train services from Kaliabor, marking a significant expansion in Assam’s rail connectivity.
He said the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will connect Guwahati to Kolkata, making long-distance travel more comfortable, while two Amrit Bharat Express trains will cover important stations across Assam, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, directly benefiting lakhs of passengers.
PM Modi underlined that these trains will connect Assam’s traders to new markets, provide students easier access to educational opportunities, and simplify travel across different parts of the country.
He remarked that such connectivity expansion builds confidence that the North East is no longer on the margins of development, no longer distant, but close to the heart and close to Delhi.
Modi remarked that the greatest pain of the North East has always been distance—distance of hearts and distance of places.
He said that for decades, people of the region felt that development was happening elsewhere and they were being left behind, which affected not only the economy but also trust.
He highlighted that the BJP, through the Governments at Union and State, have changed this sentiment by prioritising the development of the North East.
He noted that work began simultaneously to connect Assam through roadways, railways, airways and waterways.
The Prime Minister today performed Bhoomi Pujan of the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project (4-Laning of Kaliabor-Numaligarh section of NH-715), worth over ₹6,950 Crore.
The 86 km long Kaziranga Elevated Corridor project is an environmentally conscious National Highway project.
It will feature 35 km of Elevated Wildlife Corridor that will pass through Kaziranga National Park, 21 km Bypass section and 30 km widening of the existing highway section of NH-715 from two to four lanes.
The project aims to improve regional connectivity while ensuring protection of the park’s rich biodiversity.
During the programme, Prime Minister also flagged off 2 New Amrit Bharat Express trains – Guwahati (Kamakhya)-Rohtak Amrit Bharat Express and Dibrugarh-Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) Amrit Bharat Express. These new train services will strengthen rail connectivity between the Northeast and Northern India, enabling safer and more convenient travel for the people.
Governor of Assam, Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Ministers, Sarbananda Sonowal, Pabitra Margherita were present among other dignitaries at the event.
