Guwahati, Mar 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over ₹4,570 crore in Kokrajhar, emphasizing that the initiatives would accelerate infrastructure, connectivity, and economic growth in the Bodoland region.
Addressing the event via video conferencing due to inclement weather, Modi said Bodoland has entered a new phase of peace and development, contrasting it with earlier decades marked by unrest. He said the region and Assam are now “writing a new chapter of peace and prosperity.”
The projects include major road infrastructure works under the third phase of the Asom Mala programme, with over ₹1,100 crore earmarked specifically for strengthening the road network in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). The Prime Minister said improved connectivity would boost trade, tourism, and market access for farmers.
Modi also highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance rail connectivity in the region, including plans for a railway workshop, station modernisation, and improved links that could eventually connect to Bhutan, positioning Kokrajhar as a potential logistics hub. He noted that premium trains such as Vande Bharat and Rajdhani Express stopping at Kokrajhar reflect the region’s rising importance.
Recalling his visit to Assam earlier, Modi praised the Bodo community’s cultural heritage, including traditions such as Bathou faith and the Baisagu festival, saying they strengthen India’s cultural diversity. He also paid tribute to prominent Bodo leaders Upendranath Brahma and Roopnath Brahma.
The Prime Minister said the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord had played a key role in stabilising the region, noting that thousands of former insurgents have since joined the mainstream. He added that commitments under the accord — including a ₹1,500-crore development package and recognition of the Bodo language as an associate official language in Assam — are being implemented.
Modi also praised the efforts of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Bodoland leaders for pushing development initiatives in the region.
Stressing the need to accelerate growth in the state, Modi said the government is working towards the vision of “Viksit Assam”, adding that continued public support would help transform the state into a major economic hub in the Northeast.
