HT Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, June 12: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 12 years in office have transformed the Northeast from a neglected region into a national priority and propelled Assam from isolation to unprecedented opportunities for growth and development.
Reflecting on the completion of 12 years of the Modi government, Sonowal described the period as one marked by trust, development and public welfare, asserting that governance has become more transparent, technology-driven and citizen-centric.
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He said more than 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty during the period, while welfare schemes have ensured housing, sanitation, healthcare, tap water, LPG connections and direct financial assistance for millions of families across the country.
Highlighting women’s empowerment and youth development, Sonowal said government initiatives have created new opportunities for women, entrepreneurs and young innovators, making them active participants in India’s growth story.
The Union Minister said the Northeast is now recognised as “Ashtalakshmi” and has emerged as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia, driven by major investments in roads, railways, airports, waterways and digital infrastructure.
He noted that Assam has particularly benefited from improved connectivity, peace and stability, along with national recognition of its cultural and historical heritage, including Bharat Ratna for Dr Bhupen Hazarika, wider recognition of Lachit Barphukan, UNESCO recognition of Charaideo Maidam and Classical Language status for Assamese.
Sonowal also highlighted the rapid expansion of India’s maritime and inland waterways sector, stating that the growth of National Waterways and increased cargo movement on rivers such as the Brahmaputra and Barak are creating new opportunities for trade, tourism and employment in the Northeast.
Referring to Dibrugarh’s emergence as a major inland waterways hub, he said investments in river transport, logistics infrastructure and tourism projects, including the successful voyage of the MV Ganga Vilas, have reinforced the city’s strategic importance.
He further cited projects such as the Bogibeel inland waterways hub, the Namrup fertiliser expansion, the Numaligarh Bio-Refinery and the Jagiroad semiconductor plant as examples of the transformative development taking place in Assam.
Sonowal said these achievements have laid a strong foundation for a developed India by 2047 and reaffirmed Assam’s growing role as a key engine of economic growth in the country.
