STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Assam on Friday night on a three-day visit to Assam and Manipur. Shah is set to launch several projects and also lay foundation stones of many others in both the States. Shah was accorded a rousing welcome. From the LGBI (Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International) Airport at Borjhar to Amingaon via Jalukbari, the public formed a human chain and lighted 10,000 earthen oil lamps.
Earlier on Friday afternoon, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the media about the itinerary of Shah in the State slated on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday morning, Shah will fly to Imphal.
Giving the details, Sarma said, "Union Minister Amit Shahji will spend Friday night at the Guest House of Lok Nirman Bibhag (earlier known as PWD) at Amingaon here. He will participate in a video conference on a Central government's programme with Delhi from there at noon. He is slated to reach the Parade Ground (Kumar Bhaskar Barman Kshetra) at Amingaon ar around 1 pm. After laying the foundation stones of several projects virtually, he will also address a public gathering there in the presence of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and other Ministers of the State." Talking about the projects of which the foundation stones will be virtually laid by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, Minister Sarma said, "The projects include the infrastructure development of 'Bardowa Than' in Nagaon district, and establishment of the second Medical College & Hospital in Guwahati besides those of 10 law colleges across the State. He will also launch the third phase of the 'Asom Darshan' programme."
Referring to the steps for upgrading the infrastructure and beautification of the 'Bardowa Than' at Batadrawa in Nagaon district, Minister Sarma elaborated, "This sacred birthplace of Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva — the founder of neo-Vaishnavism ('Eka Sharana Nama Dharma') — will be developed on the lines of 'Swarna Mandir' or 'Golden Temple' in Amritsar.
"The Lok Nirman Bibhag has already completed the tendering process of this project. After the foundation ceremony, construction work will be started at the land of this 'Than' which was freed from encroachments recently. The project cost is estimated at around Rs 188 crore.
"Besides, the road leading to the 'Than' from Nagaon town will be upgraded to four-lane under the 'Assam Mala' scheme. This work will cost approximately Rs 223 crore."
About the second Medical College & Hospital in Guwahati – after GMCH (Guwahati Medical College & Hospital) — Minister Sarma stated, "The project cost is around Rs 860 crore. The new hospital will be developed at two places, the COVID Hospital at Kalapahar and the MMCH (Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital) in Pan Bazar. While the Kalapahar project will be for a basic hospital with 500 beds, the MMC project is visualized as a super speciality hospital in an eight-storied complex.
"Altogether three flyovers will be constructed from Kalapahar to MMCH so that the communication time between the two hospitals can be completed within eight to 10 minutes. Of them, work on the Sharpbhati flyover will be started from February 2021. The cost is around Rs 180 crore. Three other spots have been identified for the other two flyovers. These are Paltan Bazar, Nepali Mandir and Rehabari.
On the 10 new law colleges, Sarma pointed out, "There is a need to boost the infrastructure of legal education in the State. Foundation stones of 10 law colleges will be carried out virtually by Amit Shahji at the same function from Amingaon. These colleges will come up at Bilasipara, Tihu (Nalbari), Rangia, Raha, Diphu, Jorhat, Melengia (Dibrugarh), Silchar, North Lakhimpur, and Kaliabar. The foundation stone of the law college at Sootea was laid earlier."
On the third phase of 'Asom Darshan' which will also be launched during the day, Sarma added, "Each of the shortlisted 8,000 naamghars (Vaishnavite prayer and community halls) will get Rs 2.5 lakh for development activities. The roads and lanes leading to these naamghars will be developed by the Lok Nirman Bibhag."
After the function, Amit Shah will discuss the law-and-order scenario with the Chief Minister and officials of the Home department and Assam Police at Amingaon Guest House. Next, Shah will interact with leaders of the alliance partners of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) – the AGP (Asom Gana Parishad), the 'Gana Shakti', and the 'Rabha Joutha Mancha'. Then, he will also interact with the CEM (Chief Executive Member) of BTC (Bodoland Territorial Council), Pramod Boro and the elected members of the BJP, UPPL (United People's Party Liberal), and the GSP (Gana Suraksha Party). Finally, he will interact with the core committee of Assam Pradesh BJP.
Amit Shah will offer his prayers at the Kamakhya Temple on Sunday (December 27) morning. After the Darshan at the temple, he will fly to Imphal. He will return to New Delhi that very day.
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