Major road, rail, energy and connectivity projects to be unveiled in Kokrajhar, Guwahati and Silchar
Guwahati, March 12: Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stones for multiple development projects worth more than ₹47,800 crore in Assam during his two-day visit on March 13-14.
According to official sources, the visit will see the Prime Minister launch major initiatives spanning roads, railways, energy, waterways, agriculture and infrastructure, aimed at strengthening connectivity and boosting economic development in Assam and the wider Northeast. He will visit Kokrajhar, Guwahati, and Silchar.
On March 13, Modi will begin his programme in Kokrajhar at around 1:30 PM, where he will perform Bhoomi Poojan, lay foundation stones and flag off projects worth over ₹4,570 crore.
Among the key announcements will be the Assam Mala 3.0 road initiative worth over ₹3,200 crore, under which more than 900 kilometres of roads will be built across the state to improve inter-state connectivity and strengthen links between national highways and rural roads.
The Prime Minister will also launch six road infrastructure projects in the Bodoland Territorial Council area, including four flyovers and two bridges costing around ₹1,100 crore. These projects are expected to ease traffic congestion in Kokrajhar and improve access to tourism sites, agricultural markets and healthcare services.
A Periodic Overhauling (POH) railway workshop will also be launched at Bashbari in Kokrajhar district to strengthen railway maintenance infrastructure and generate employment opportunities.
During the programme, the Prime Minister will also flag off three new train services, including the Kamakhya–Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express, the Guwahati–New Jalpaiguri Express, and the Narangi–Agartala Express, aimed at improving rail connectivity between the Northeast and other parts of India.
Later in the evening at around 5 PM in Guwahati, Modi will launch projects worth about ₹19,680 crore.
A key highlight will be the distribution of land pattas to tea garden workers, a move expected to provide long-awaited homestead land rights to thousands of families in Assam’s tea estates, improving housing security and access to welfare schemes.
The Prime Minister will also release the 22nd installment of the PM-KISAN scheme, under which over 9.3 crore farmers across India will receive ₹2,000 directly into their bank accounts.
Among the major infrastructure projects to be dedicated to the nation is the Kopili Hydro-Electric Project, built at a cost of more than ₹2,300 crore in Dima Hasao and West Karbi Anglong districts, which will enhance clean energy generation and power supply in the region.
Energy infrastructure will receive a major boost with the capacity enhancement of the Numaligarh-Siliguri Product Pipeline, expansion of the North East Gas Grid, and the foundation stone for Numaligarh Refinery Limited’s Rail-Fed POL Terminal at Panchgram in Hailakandi district.
Several railway projects will also be dedicated, including electrification of the Rangiya–Murkongselek, Chaparmukh–Dibrugarh, Badarpur–Silchar, and Badarpur–Churaibari rail lines, improving efficiency and connectivity between the Brahmaputra and Barak Valley regions.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for the Furkating–Tinsukia rail line doubling project, aimed at increasing railway capacity for both passenger and freight services.
In the waterways sector, foundation stones will be laid for cruise terminals at Bishwanath Ghat and Neamati, along with a Regional Centre of Excellence at Bogibeel for maritime training and research in the Northeast.
Another major urban mobility initiative is the ropeway project linking Kamakhya Railway Station with Kamakhya Temple, which is expected to carry around 17,000 passengers daily and reduce traffic congestion around the popular pilgrimage site.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the PM Ekta Mall in Guwahati, envisioned as a major hub to promote One District One Product (ODOP) items, GI-tagged products, handicrafts and handloom goods from Assam and other parts of India.
On March 14, Modi will travel to Silchar where, at around 10:45 AM, he will launch projects worth about ₹23,550 crore.
The centerpiece will be the Shillong–Silchar Corridor, the first access-controlled Greenfield four-lane high-speed corridor in Northeast India, built at a cost of nearly ₹22,860 crore. The 166-kilometre corridor is expected to reduce travel time between Guwahati and Silchar from 8.5 hours to about 5 hours, boosting trade and connectivity between Assam and Meghalaya.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for an elevated corridor on NH-306 in Silchar, which will help decongest one of the city’s busiest stretches and improve connectivity with Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur.
Additionally, a new College of Agriculture at Patharkandi in Karimganj district will be announced to strengthen agricultural education and research in the Barak Valley.
