GUWAHATI:
As part of the Assam government’s “Bikashor Baabe Edin” initiative, which roughly translates into “a day for development”, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on January 5 attended the base laying and bhumi pujan ceremonies of a total of seven infrastructure development projects under the public works (building & national highway) department at various locations across Kamrup (Metro) district.
The seven projects, being undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 1,777 crore, are the new Raj Bhawan at Kharghuli to be built for Rs 41.32 crore, an auditorium with 800 seating capacity of Rs 44.26 crores, a police reserve at Pan Bazar for Rs 544.44 crore, the integrated deputy commissioner’s office at Rupnagar for Rs 58.86 crore, a 5,000-seating capacity auditorium at Khanapara for Rs 185 crore, the police commissionerate building at Khanapara for Rs 95 crore and the integrated directorate complex at Betkuchi for Rs 808 crore.
The construction of the Raj Bhawan will be completed within the stipulated time-frame of 18 months while that for the rest of the projects range from 24 to 30 months.
“Today was a historic day for the residents’ of Guwahati, as seven infrastructure projects could ensure the largest city in the Northeast becomes the gateway to Southeast Asia in days to come,” Sarma told reporters after the event.
Sarma said the seven projects for which the foundation stones were laid would act as catalysts in helping the government realise its aims and ambitions to transform Guwahati into the nerve centre of all important activities in the field of economy, industries, cultural affairs and tourism in the region.
“The new Raj Bhawan, once completed, would easily stand out as one of the most magnificent governor’s residence in the entire country and the Assam government ensure the project is completed within the time-frame of 18 months, as per the contract agreement,” the chief minister said.
“A redeveloped Guwahati Police Reserve complex at Panbazar and a new office building for the Police Commissioner would prove immensely helpful to the police department in efficiently and effectively carrying out their official obligations and duties in the city,” he also said. Stating that a city such as Guwahati with an ever-increasing population figure poses several challenges in the maintenance of law and order, traffic management, new-age technical crimes, etc, the chief minister exuded confidence the redeveloped police reserve and the police commissionerate office would serve their intended purposes and help create a favourable image for Guwahati.
Taking part at the “bhumi pujan” at the site of the integrated deputy commissioner’s office and the integrated directorate complex at Rupnagar and Betkuchi respectively, chief minister Sarma said apart from promoting good governance and efficient time management, the spaces that would be freed up after the offices shift to their new location would be utilised for the welfare of the public in the form of public parks, gardens, etc.
Speaking on the two state-of-the-art auditoriums, one with a seating capacity of 5,000 at Khanapara and the other with a seating capacity of 800 at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra premises and to be built for Rs 185 crore and Rs 44.26 crore, respectively, the chief minister said these would fill the void that was being felt from time to time while organising events with a large number of audience in attendance.
The chief minister assured of all assistance from the government to the implementing agencies and departments for the timely completion of the projects foundation stones which were laid on January 5. He expressed hope once these and other projects currently under various stages of development are completed, the majority of the grievances of the public of Guwahati would be mitigated.
Along with senior officials of the government, the chief minister was accompanied by ministers Bimal Bora and Atul Bora. Governor Jagdish Mukhi and his wife, Prem Mukhi, were present at the bhumi pujan site of the new Raj Bhawan.