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Guwahati, Feb. 18 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that with the launching of a huge number of connectivity projects, Assam and the northeast region would emerge as the hub of East-Asia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched several connectivity projects costing INR 15,000 crore in Assam. He said that these projects would not only boost trade, economy and industrialisation but also open a new chapter for the tourism industry in the northeastern region.
The Prime Minister said that the projects would make connectivity and transportation easier among West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura along with Bangladesh and Bhutan.
Launching the 'Mahabahu-Brahmaputra' Ro-Pax vessel operations, laying the foundation stone of the Dhubri Phulbari Bridge and performing the Bhumi Pujan for construction of Majuli Bridge in Assam through videoconferencing, the Prime Minister said these projects would boost the more reliable, efficient and time saving connectivity and help to further widen the tourism and improve economy.
The INR 3,231-crore Mahabahu-Brahmaputra project includes the Ro-Pax vessel operations between Neamati-Majuli Island, North Guwahati-South Guwahati and Dhubri-Hatsingimari, construction of Inland Water Transport (IWT) Terminal at Jogighopa (in Bongaigaon district) and various tourist jetties on the Brahmaputra river and launch of digital solutions for ease-of-doing-business.
The project is aimed at providing seamless connectivity to the eastern parts of India and includes various development activities for the people living around Brahmaputra and Barak rivers in southern Assam.
The Ro-Pax operation between Neamati and Majuli will reduce the total distance of 420 km currently being travelled by vehicles to only 12 km, resulting in a substantial impact on the logistics of small-scale industries of the region. Two indigenously procured Ro-Pax vessels -- MV Rani Gaidinliu and MV Sachin Dev Burman -- will become operational.
Introduction of Ro-Pax vessel MV JFR Jacob between North and South Guwahati will reduce travelling distance of around 40 km to a mere 3 km. Introduction of MV Bob Khathing between Dhubri and Hatsingimari will reduce travelling distance of 220 km to 28 km, thus resulting in a huge saving of travel distance and time.
The Mahabahu-Brahmaputra project also includes construction of tourist jetties at four locations, -- Neamati, Biswanath Ghat, Pandu and Jogighopa -- with financial assistance of INR 9.41 crore from the Union Tourism Ministry. These jetties will promote river cruise tourism, generate local employment and growth for local businesses.
Referring to the setting up of the first National Data Centre for the North Eastern Region at Amingaon, on the outskirts of Guwahati city, Modi said that the data centre for the eight northeastern states would do huge improvement to the e-governance, start-ups and industrialisation in the entire region. "India's 6th data centre in Guwahati would further strengthen the digital India vision," he pointed out.
"Projects already implemented or under implementations would reinforce the physical and cultural integrity of Assam and other northeastern states and security of the nation would further make it stronger.
"Many projects of roadways, waterways, airways, railways and several gas grids are either completed or under implementation," the Prime Minister said.
He said that the growth and progress in northeast got momentum during the governance of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the present "double engine" government has given further momentum to it.
Modi said that water ways would play an important role in connecting the northeastern region with South-east Asian countries.
According to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the new projects worth a total of INR 15,000 crore would make a sea change of connectivities and economy in Assam and other northeastern states and further strengthen the waterway connectivity with Bangladesh and Bhutan.
Central ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Mansukh L Mandaviya, Rameswar Teli, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad K Sangma, Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma among others were also present on the occasion.