Narendra Modi lays foundation stones for two bridges and launches Mahabahu- Brahmaputra project

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Mahabahu-Brahmaputra, an inland waterway project.To mark the launch of Mahabahu-Brahmaputra, he inaugurated the Ro-Pax vessel operations between Neemati-Majuli Island, North Guwahati-South Guwahati and Dhubri-Hatsingimari while laying the foundation stone of Inland Water Transport (IWT) Terminal at Jogighopa and various tourist jetties on Brahmaputra and launched digital solutions for ease-of-doing business. And also he laid the foundation stone for two bridges across the Brahmaputra river, the bridges includes approaches over Brahmaputra between Majuli on north bank and Jorhat on south bank (6.8 km) on NH-715K. This bridge will connect Jorhat to Majuli (Neematighat to Kamlabarighat).

Through the virtual mode the Prime minister said, “The course correction started during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee… In recent years, steps were taken to re-establish multi-modal connectivity in Assam. Efforts are on to make Assam and the Northeast the hub of our cultural and business relations with other East Asian countries… today’s connectivity related launches will open new avenues of tourism and Assam could emerge as a major destination for cruise tourism. We have to work collectively to make Assam and the Northeast a strong pillar of Atmanirbhar Bharat,”. He further also said that it’s all done in the poll bound state to only improve its connection with the other states.

The Opposition Congress was not satisfied by the developments on Thursday and thus questioned their efforts. One of such was asked by PCC media department chairperson Bobbeeta Sharma, “Now the question arises whether the technical details have been planned and laid out for the Ro-Pax ferry services in Assam? Or will it face the same fate as the much hyped Ro-Ro ferry in Gujarat which is dysfunctional? Given the negative reports of the ferry service in Gujarat, it is suspected that the much hyped Ro-Pax service in Assam is nothing but an election stunt.”

“It is also noteworthy to mention that the foundation stone for the Neematighat-Majuli bridge was laid on February 27, 2016, by Gadkari near Majuli College playground. Today another foundation stone was laid for the same bridge! What was the government doing in the last five years?” she further asked.

The Prime Minister said that the Government is working with the vision of sabka saath, sabka vikas and sabka vishwas in the country including in the Northeast. “We have to work collectively to make Assam, Northeast a strong pillar of Aatmnirbhar Bharat,” concluded the Prime Minister.

By Swarnali Chakraborty