Assam Cabinet approves Rs 50,000-crore package for infrastructure, welfare projects

Guwahati, Aug 30 (IANS) The Assam Cabinet has approved a Rs 50,000-crore package aimed at accelerating capital-intensive development projects and strengthening infrastructure and public services across the state, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday.

The proposed investment will be mobilised through multiple sources, including the state’s own resources, assistance from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and funds available under various Central government schemes. The package is expected to cover a wide range of sectors, with the government laying emphasis on basic infrastructure, healthcare, education, connectivity, power supply, housing and flood management.

According to the Chief Minister, a major component of the programme will focus on strengthening primary healthcare facilities and improving infrastructure at schools and Anganwadi centres. The government will also undertake housing-related initiatives for tea garden workers, besides supporting student welfare measures and developing facilities such as women’s markets and hostels.

With Assam continuing to face recurring floods, part of the proposed investment will be directed towards strengthening anti-flood embankments in vulnerable areas. The move is aimed at improving the state’s preparedness and reducing the impact of seasonal flooding on communities and infrastructure. Road and power networks have also been identified as key areas for investment under the package. The government has said that strengthening these networks would support economic activity and improve access to essential services across the state.

The package will also contribute to the development of the state’s industrial infrastructure, with capital-intensive projects intended to provide a long-term push to Assam’s economic growth.

In a separate major healthcare decision, the Cabinet approved Rs 600 crore for establishing a Proton Beam Therapy facility at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). The facility is expected to expand access to advanced cancer treatment and provide patients in Assam and the wider region with specialised medical care.

The latest Cabinet decisions come as the state government seeks to combine large-scale infrastructure investment with expansion of welfare and essential public services. The government has positioned the Rs 50,000-crore package as a long-term development initiative, with spending spread across sectors considered critical to Assam’s infrastructure, human development and economic growth.

–IANS

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