HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Dec 5: Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday formally launched ‘Bikashar Babe Eta Poshek’, a development initiative of the state government to take the development journey of Assam in an organised manner at a function held at Bongaigaon.
In the first phase, the programme, which will run till December 19, will witness the laying of foundation stones and inauguration of infrastructure projects worth Rs 15,000 crore in 11 districts of the state.
As a part of the programme, chief minister Sarma laid the foundation stone of the 200 bedded Bongaigaon Medical College and Hospital at a function held at North Bongaigaon Stadium play ground in Bongaigaon. The medical college and hospital will be constructed on 151 bighas of land. The project is scheduled to be completed within three months at a cost of Rs 61,067.41 lakh. The chief minister also laid the foundation stone of the Integrated Deputy Commissioner’s Office of Bongaigaon district. The project will be completed within 30 months. The cost of the project is Rs 4978. 78 lakh.
The chief minister, on the occasion, also inaugurated a statue of Naranarayan at Bongaigaon immersion ghat and laid the foundation stone for the construction of a walking zone to facilitate the public to walk in a healthy environment. The project includes a 668-metre-long walking zone, an 18-metre-long bridge and a musical fountain.
Chief minister Sarma further laid the foundation stone of Bongaigaon Polytechnic and a workshop of Bongaigaon ITI.
The chief minister also inaugurated the Srijangram Model Hospital constructed at a cost of Rs 439.56 lakh on Monday. The model hospital has been constructed under the National Health Mission and the construction of this hospital is aimed at solving a long-standing problem of the people of the area.
Chief minister Sarma also inaugurated the Bhog-ghar of the Ganesh Temple at Lalmati in Abhayapuri.
The CM visited the bridge over the Aie river connecting Barpeta district with Abhayapuri and took stock of the situation.
The chief minister said, “The state government has approved Rs 29 crore from its own funds for the construction of the bridge and all other related works.”
It may be noted that the total financial outlay of the projects that the chief minister either inaugurated or laid foundation of is Rs 693.29 crore.
The chief minister further said, “Ever since the Cabinet meeting was held in Bongaigaon, the state government has been trying to prepare a new blueprint for the development of the district.”
“The state government will make several plans for the development of the district in the coming days,” the CM added.
CM Sarma further said, “The present state government is moving towards implementing the promises made during the elections one by one in less than two years of coming to power. Furthermore, once it fulfills its promise to recruit 1 lakh posts, the government has planned a major scheme worth Rs 5,000 crore for self-reliance of youth from next year.”
The CM said that he believes the state government can move towards a new environment of development taking the cooperation of everybody. He also said that a New Assam of Naranarayan-Chilarai’s dreams can only be built through unprecedented development initiatives.
“A theme park will be built at the newly created open space under the Chilarai flyover. The park will have landscaping, amphitheatre and statues depicting various cultures of Assam, and will be constructed in three phases and the state government will construct it using untied funds,” the CM stated.
Health and Family Welfare minister Keshab Mahanta, Panchayat and Rural Development minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass, MLAs Phani Bhusan Chowdhury, Abdul Batin Khandakar, Pradip Sarkar and host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Chief minister Sarma also visited the residence of former MLA Rabin Banikya who died on November 11 and paid his condolences to the bereaved family members.
