Rs 900 crore projects for Majuli: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

GUWAHATI: The world’s largest riverine island Majuli in upper Assam will be a capital of development in the next three to four years with road connectivity with Lakhimpur district in the north and bridge connection with Jorhat district in the south, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in Majuli on Sunday. He was speaking while inaugurating projects worth Rs 894 crore for the island district.
He hoped that journey time from Majuli to Lakhimpur and Jorhat town will be reduced to mere 30 minutes after four years. People of the island needs to take the river route and travel for about two hours to reach these two developed towns and has been facing immense hardships during medical emergency.

Sarma, while laying the foundation and inaugurated projects worth Rs 894 crore for the island district under the initiative “Bikakhor Babe Eta Pokhek” (Fortnight for Development), however, cautioned that unique heritage of land of satras (vaishnavite monasteries), Majuli, must remain intact amid pace of development. While affirming that Majuli, known as the land of spirituality, tradition and culture is experiencing rapid progress, he said, “While making best use of development, hopefully, the people of Majuli will work to preserve its spiritual and cultural life,” Sarma added.
Sarma performed bhumi puja for improvement and upgrade of road from Balichapori in Majuli to Bongalmara in Lakhimpur district, including construction of two major bridges over Luit (another name for Brahmaputra) and Subansiri rivers. “Our government aims to complete construction of the bridge over Luit within two years and the bridge over Subansiri in the next three years,” Sarma said.
The key connectivity project will be completed under state government’s flagship programme, Asom Mala, at project cost of Rs 694 crore. Under Asom Mala, major district roads and roads with economic importance are being upgraded with NH specifications.