On February 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated several projects in Assam, including a bridge over the Brahmaputra River, an IIM, and a data center for the northeastern region.
These projects, launched months before the Assam assembly elections, aim to improve connectivity, strengthen digital infrastructure, promote higher education, and enhance public transport.
On this visit, Modi arrived at Moran in Dibrugarh district to inaugurate an emergency landing facility (ELF) and launch projects worth over Rs 5,500 crore.
The first project he inaugurated was a six-lane bridge over the Brahmaputra River, named the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, which cost around Rs 3,030 crore.
This six-lane extradosed prestressed concrete (PSC) bridge connects Guwahati and North Guwahati, and is the first of its kind in the Northeast.
After the inauguration, Modi walked across the bridge.
Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa were also present.
The bridge will reduce travel time between Guwahati and North Guwahati to just seven minutes. Currently, the only bridge connecting the two banks in the capital region is the Saraighat Bridge, which takes about 30 minutes to cross.
The bridge incorporates base isolation technology using friction pendulum bearings, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, considering the region's high seismic activity.
High-performance stay cables were also used to ensure durability and long-term structural performance.
The PMO statement also mentioned that a Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) has been incorporated for real-time condition monitoring, early damage detection, and improved safety and service life of the extradosed bridge.
Modi had laid the foundation stone for the bridge on February 9, 2019, and construction began on March 1, 2020, under the then Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
The initial cost of the bridge was Rs 2,608 crore, which increased to Rs 3,030 crore, and the project was expected to be completed within four years. The bridge is 7.75 km long, including the approach roads and flyovers on both sides of the Brahmaputra, while the actual bridge over the river is 1.24 km long.
The Assam Public Works Department implemented the project with consultancy services from Systra Engenharia Consultoria Ltd of Brazil. S P Singla Construction Pvt Ltd was the contractor, and the New Development Bank provided funding, with 20 per cent of the total project cost coming from the Assam government.
A senior official of the Assam government told PTI that after its formal opening, the bridge will be exclusively for pedestrians until February 28.
Later, in Lachit Ghat, Modi also unveiled the Indian Institute of Management Guwahati, inaugurated a high-tech data center catering to the entire Northeast, and launched 225 electric buses for four cities, including the Assam capital.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, several state ministers, MPs, MLAs, and senior government officials were also present during the inauguration of these projects.
The PM virtually inaugurated the IIM Guwahati's temporary campus, which is expected to significantly boost higher education and management education in the northeastern region.
The main IIM Guwahati project will cost Rs 555 crore.
The central government had last year approved the establishment of an IIM in Guwahati. This is the second IIM in the Northeast and the 22nd in the country. The first IIM in the region is in Shillong.
"The permanent campus will be developed at Palasbari near Guwahati, while the institute will commence its academic session from a transit campus at Tech City, Bongora. IIM Ahmedabad will oversee the temporary arrangements," the Assam government official said.
The PM also virtually inaugurated the National Data Centre (NDC) for the northeastern region, set up at an investment of Rs 348 crore at Amingaon in Kamrup district of Assam.
The state-of-the-art data center with a total sanctioned load of 8.5 MW and an average rack capacity of 10 kW per rack will host mission-critical applications for various government departments and also function as a disaster recovery center for other NDCs.
"This will enable governments in the Northeast to digitally facilitate the delivery of essential citizen-centric services," the PMO said.
Aligned with the vision of Digital India, the NDC for the Northeast has been envisioned as a strategic intervention to strengthen the region's ICT backbone and ensure robust, secure, and always-available digital infrastructure.
Modi also flagged off 225 electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme.
Of these, 100 buses are for Guwahati, 50 each for Nagpur and Bhavnagar, and 25 for Chandigarh.
"With the launch of e-bus operations under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme in these four cities, more than 50 lakh citizens are expected to benefit through access to clean, affordable, and reliable public transport services, contributing to improved urban mobility and enhanced quality of life," the PMO statement added.