Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday, 11 July conducted a wide-ranging review of major infrastructure and cultural projects in Guwahati, covering the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Samannay Tirtha in Jalukbari, the Assam Police Reserve redevelopment at Paltan Bazar, and the ongoing modernisation of the Assam State Zoo and Botanical Garden. The inspections signal a push to upgrade both civic amenities and cultural heritage assets in the state capital.

Bhupen Hazarika Memorial to Get AR and VR Makeover

Chief Minister Sarma began his day by paying tribute to music legend Dr. Bhupen Hazarika at the Samannay Tirtha and held a review with officials from the Cultural Affairs Department and the Public Works Department. He announced that the memorial complex would be redesigned to more authentically reflect the life, works, and legacy of the iconic singer, composer, and cultural icon.

Sarma said Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies would be introduced to offer visitors immersive experiences — including virtual interactions with Dr. Hazarika and digital access to his music and literary contributions. An open-air stage is also planned within the complex. A dedicated government committee will be constituted to manage the memorial and organise year-round cultural events centred on Dr. Hazarika's creations, in addition to programmes on his birth and death anniversaries, with the aim of making the site a vibrant cultural destination.

₹600 Crore Police Reserve Campus at Paltan Bazar

The Chief Minister subsequently inspected the redevelopment of the Assam Police Reserve campus at Paltan Bazar, a project estimated at approximately ₹600 crore. The upgraded campus will provide residential accommodation for more than 600 police personnel, including Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, and Constables.

Beyond housing, the campus will also include a school, temple, namghar, playground, press conference hall, and administrative offices — positioning it as a self-contained residential township for the force. A separate residential building for 42 police officers is also under construction at Panbazar.

₹360 Crore Zoo Modernisation: Hospital, Museum, and Possible Train Service

Sarma also reviewed the ₹360 crore modernisation project at the Assam State Zoo and Botanical Garden, inspecting the under-construction veterinary hospital, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre, and museum. He chaired a review meeting with senior officials and directed authorities to consult leading veterinary experts during the hospital's development.

Notably, the Chief Minister asked officials to examine the feasibility of introducing an internal train service for visitors within the zoo premises — a feature that, if implemented, would be a first-of-its-kind addition for the facility. Sarma also reviewed the health of three rescued red pandas that were brought to the zoo after being seized from wildlife traffickers earlier this year.

What These Projects Signal for Guwahati

Taken together, the three projects represent a combined outlay running well above ₹960 crore in Guwahati alone. The simultaneous push on cultural heritage, police welfare, and wildlife infrastructure reflects a governance strategy that blends soft-power investments with hard civic upgrades. With Guwahati increasingly positioning itself as a gateway city for Northeast India, the modernisation of its zoo and cultural landmarks carries significance beyond the state's borders. Progress on all three projects is expected to be closely tracked in the months ahead.