Assam Government Endorses Comprehensive Development Initiatives

Guwahati, Dec 5 (NationPress) The Assam Government meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has approved multiple key initiatives aimed at enhancing infrastructure, fostering education, and recognizing literary achievements, demonstrating the administration's dedication to comprehensive development.

On Wednesday, the Chief Minister revealed that the government has resolved to prohibit the serving and consumption of beef in any restaurants, hotels, and public venues throughout the state.

He mentioned that the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, enacted in 2021, has effectively curtailed cattle slaughter, and "now we have resolved to eliminate beef consumption in public spaces".

Additionally, the Cabinet has decided to upgrade the four-lane roadway leading to Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport into a six-lane route.

An extra allocation of Rs 116 crore for the six-lane road has been earmarked from the state budget, with the total projected cost for this initiative amounting to Rs 474 crore.

The Cabinet also resolved to establish a distinct literary award named after the esteemed writer Homen Borgohain for pension recipients. A one-time aid of Rs 50,000 will be provided to those already receiving other pensions. Moreover, the monthly literary pension will be available to individuals who are not government employees.

In another development, the Cabinet has decided to transfer the Sanskrit Tols and Pali Tols to the Directorate of Secondary Education, moving them from their current placement under the Directorate of Higher Education.

During a media briefing following the Cabinet meeting, CM Sarma indicated that Assam is poised for significant development as projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore are anticipated to be announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the Advantage Assam Summit in February next year.

Elaborating on the upcoming projects, he detailed the expansion of the Bongaigaon Refinery by an additional 5 million MT, the enhancement of the Namruo Fertiliser Plant at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore, the Guwahati Ring Road project, the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor, the Numaligarh-Gohpur road tunnel, a new Expressway from Guwahati to Barapani and Panchgram estimated at Rs 25,000 crore, a bridge across the Brahmaputra linking Morigaon and Darrang, two satellite townships at Jagiroad and Palasbari costing approximately Rs 10,000 crore, and a railway project connecting Guwahati to Gelephu in Bhutan.

The Chief Minister also announced that the state's cabinet expansion will occur on December 7.