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Silchar: In a big boost to road infrastructure of Assam, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari along with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will be laying the foundation stone for the 27th Rashtriya Rajmarg Pariyojana (National Highways Projects) in Silchar on Friday. The foundation laying ceremony for the project called "Pragati Ka Highway" is scheduled to begin at 1 PM today.
The highway project which is worth over Rs. 2,366 crores includes a total length of 439 kilometres. The project will include building bridges over Krishnai river to connect Meghalaya to the rest of India, strengthening the tourism and socio-economic conditions of the state as well as giving a boost to commercial activities in Mizoram. Besides, it will also lead to ease in transporting patients and availing health services, generating employment and self-employment opportunities in the entire Northeastern part. A promotional video regarding the same was released by the Union Minister's official Twitter handle yesterday.
The Union Minister who is on a one-day visit to Assam has already reached Silchar. Upon his arrival, he was warmly welcomed by CM Sarbananda Sonowal and other Cabinet ministers. Sonowal tweeted pictures from the Minister's arrival and wrote: "Warmest welcome Shri @nitin_gadkariji, Hon'ble Union Minister @MORTHIndia, to Assam. Your visit to the beautiful Barak Valley, on an auspicious day, heralds new progress for the state and the region."
It is worth mentioning that ever since the BJP government came to power, the Centre has been consistently trying to bring the Northeast into focus and boost its infrastructural development. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi- led governement has been actively working towards boosting railway, airports, roads and highway projects and improving the connectivity of Northeastern states. Since 2014, the Modi government has announced a slew of infrastructure projects to upgrade and improve infrastructure of the region. Living up to his reference of the Northeastern states as "the Ashta Lakshmi of India" the Modi government has ceremoniously inaugurated different bridges and airports in the region, such as the Dhola-Sadiya and Bogibeel bridges in Assam, Rupsi airport in Kokrajhar and Holongi airport in Arunachal Pradesh.
The foundation stone laying ceremony comes a day ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the state. Home Minister Shah is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the construction of Northeast's biggest medical college and hospital in Nagaon. Notalby, the Home Minister will attend several other functions ahead of Assam assembly elections next year.