Sonowal reviews preparation for PM’s visit to Assam

Guwahati: Security measures have been beefed up in Assam in view of the forthcoming day-long visit of  the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state scheduled on May 26.

The chief minister and home minister, Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday inspected the newly-constructed 9.15 km Dhola-Sadiya bridge which will be dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister on May 26, at the site to take stock

of the finishing touch being given to the structure.

Sonowal held meeting with the officials at Sadiya to take stock of the preparation for the high-profile inaugural function of te longest bridge in the country, that coincides with the first anniversary of his government and reviewed the security measures too.

The high level review meeting held at Sadiya was attended by state PWD Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, MoS Power and Revenue Pallab Lochan Das, several MLAs, all deputy commissioners, Superintendents of Police and eastern Assam districts, officials of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and Navayuga Engineering Co Ltd (Visakhapatnam) which has constructed the bridge.

Sonowal called upon the people of Assam especially those from eastern Assam districts of Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Dibruragh and Tinsukia to extend cooperation to the `historic’ visit of the PM to inaugurate the country’s longest bridge in the state.

The bridge will be of immense strategic importance to the country as it would smoothen the movements of troops closer to China border in that part as the travel time to cross the mighty Brahmaputra River in that area would be hugely reduced after the bridge is opened for vehicular traffic.

A high-level security review meeting was held at the headquarter of the 4 Corps of the Indian Army at the garrison town of Tezpur in North Assam two days back to discuss security measures to be taken during the visit of the PM.

The security review meeting was attended by the senior Army officials, the chief secretary of Assam and the Director General of Assam police besides other officials, an official source informed.

He directed the district administration and district PHED officials to construct adequate number of toilets for the expected visitors and ensure availability of safe drinking water. (With added inputs from UNI)