GUWAHATI: Assam Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi underlined the need for connecting remote areas through physical infrastructure and making greater investment in social infrastructure like health, education etc.
He said, “Without creation of infrastructure socio-economic growth of the society is unthinkable. The success of regional development hinges primarily physical infrastructure,” he said Inaugurating the two-day programme on Physical and Social Infrastructure for Regional Development organised jointly by the Ministry of Finance Government of India, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and FICCI at Hotel Taj Vivanta here.
The Governor said that the development deficit of the North East could be addressed with creating infrastructure encouraging massive investments. He, however, said, “As a core component of our cooperative federalism, the Government, at the Centre as well as in most of the states, are now putting a lot of emphasis on infrastructure development in order to boost economic growth and generate gainful employment. A wide range of business opportunities are being created as part of an inclusive development strategy in Assam and other North Eastern States”.
“In concurrence of Assam’s potential of being the gateway to South East Asia, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has sanctioned massive investments for the development of roads and infrastructure in Assam. The Ministry has also taken ambitious project to make the National Waterways 2 and 16 in Assam more navigable to allow big ships to navigate and help Assam’s access to the sea route,” the Governor informed.
He further said that Assam government had also announced Axom Mala Programme for State Highway and Major District Road Improvement and Reconstruction. “The budget for 2018-19 has earmarked an initial amount of Rs. 200 crores for the project. Moreover, the Centre’s budgetary allocation on infrastructure for 2018-19 was hiked to nearly Rupees six lakh crore against estimated expenditure of around Rupees five lakh crore in 2017-18,” the Governor added.
Prof. Mukhi further said that in the context of regional development, the development of North East required special focus considering the region’s aspiration to be in the mainstream of the country.
“The region is a land bridge between South Asia and South East Asia, and shares borders with countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal and China. In line with the regions strategic location, the Centre along with the State governments are implementing projects which include Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project, Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, East West Corridor that is part of the Golden Quadrilateral, Border Haats and Rhi-Tiddim Road Project,” he said