Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced new bridge over Brahmaputra

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Thursday a three-km four-lane bridge over the Brahmaputra from Palashbari to Sualkuchi with an estimated cost of Rs 3,094 crore.

"The Centre has approved the construction of a three-km-long four-lane bridge over the Brahmaputra in the Kamrup district. The bridge will get constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 3,094 crore," she said while launching the Right To Public Service Web Portal (RTPS) in a function at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetera here.

The bridge will facilitate direct connectivity to the internationally renowned silk town of Sualkuchi and the industrial region of Amingaon with Guwahati and the International airport. The bridge will decongest Guwahati and increase transport efficiency, thus helping in cutting down travel time for daily commuters from Nalbari and Barpeta travelling to Guwahati, she said.

Sitharaman said that the project would also help check river-bank erosion and improve transportation efficiency.

Sitharaman said that the initiatives undertaken by the State government had given a push to various infrastructure-related activities.

"It is impressive to see the pace at which the developmental projects are moving in the state," she said.

The Union Minister appreciated the Assam government for its holistic, inclusive developmental approach to growth.

The Union Minister also said there is no bridge over the Brahmaputra in its 160-km bank up to Jogighopa. The Union government is considering the need of the people of the state, even CCPA (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs) is also working on such projects.

Elaborating various measures undertaken for the revival of the country's economy, the Union Minister said, "We have taken various steps for the revival of the economy on the ways of Union Budget. The revival which is sustainable, the revival which will have an immediate and positive impact on the economy."

Since last year, the Union government has given special emphasis on the fund allocated for infrastructure projects in the country.

"In the Union Budget 2020-21, we have given a lot of emphasis on pending infrastructure projects. There is 34 per cent growth in the infra section in this year's budget estimates," she said.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Himanta Sarma termed the day as a shining occasion in the parlance of governance of the state.

Sarma said that launching the web portal would help in meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra of minimum government and maximum governance.

"It is a giant leap in taking the governance closer to our people as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has launched Right to Public Services Web Portal www.rtps.assam.gov. This web portal is a way forward towards electronic delivery of ARTPS-notified public services to the people as a means to real-time governance," he said. The Chief Minister also said that the service would help in strengthening delivery channels so that nobody is left from the development agenda.

He stated that to make RTPS more responsive to the service of the people, the government decided to use IT solutions.

The Chief Minister also reiterated the State government's commitment to bring about fast, effective and resilient reforms in governance in tandem with the rapidly transforming world. Therefore, the web portal would prove to be a boon in providing notified citizen-centric service delivery to the people, Sarma added. The Chief Minister also said that the service will also empower the people of the state to apply and avail of public services from the comfort of home or public facilitation centres that will help in saving their time for receiving fruits of governance.

Organized by the Administrative Reforms, Training, Pension and Public Grievances Department, the launching ceremony was attended among others by State Finance Minister Ajanta Neog, Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta, Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah and several senior government officers.

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