GUWAHATI | Assam Minister Kaushik Rai on Saturday highlighted the State government’s development initiatives and called upon people to work collectively towards building “a strong India, a prosperous Assam and a peaceful society” during the 80th Independence Day celebrations in Silchar.

Rai hoisted the National Flag at DSA Stadium as the chief guest and highlighted major infrastructure, connectivity, healthcare, education, agriculture, investment and welfare projects underway in Cachar and the Barak Valley.

Speaking at the ceremony organised by the Cachar district administration, Rai paid tribute to freedom fighters and martyrs and said their sacrifices had placed a responsibility on citizens to contribute to nation-building.

He said Assam was moving towards becoming an important development hub in the Northeast, with the government focusing on infrastructure, investment, employment, healthcare, education and rural development.

Among the major projects highlighted were the Rs 664-crore Silchar Trunk Road-Capital Point-Rangirkhari flyover, the Rs 621-crore Sribhumi Medical College and Hospital, and the Rs 166-crore 500-bed Emergency Hospital at Silchar Medical College and Hospital.

Rai also referred to the Rs 22,864-crore Barapani-Silchar High Speed Express Highway, the Rs 6,724-crore Silchar-Churaibari four-laning project, the Rs 957-crore Silchar-Jiribam Package-I and the Rs 1,973-crore Silchar-Vairengte four-laning project.

He said 1,450 km of roads had been sanctioned in Cachar over the past five years at a cost of Rs 2,126 crore, with 828 km already completed. On healthcare, Rai said Assam’s maternal mortality ratio had declined from 480 in 2004-06 to 84 in 2022-24, while the infant mortality rate had fallen to 29.

He also highlighted welfare schemes, saying 1,85,518 women in Cachar had benefited under Orunodoi 3.0 and 1,26,234 women under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan. Under the PM Awas Yojana, 1,47,160 houses had been sanctioned in the district, of which 1,12,237 had been completed.

Rai said Assam had attracted investment commitments worth Rs 5.18 lakh crore through Advantage Assam 2.0, with around 60 per cent of the projects reportedly at the implementation stage. He described the Tata semiconductor project at Jagiroad as a potential catalyst for the State’s economic growth.

He also spoke about measures for tea garden communities, farmers, youth and other vulnerable sections, stressing that development should reach the last mile. Rai said the Barak Valley Development Department, established in December 2024, was working with various Central and State departments to accelerate development in Cachar, Sribhumi and Hailakandi.

Earlier, Rai paid floral tributes at the Gandhibagh Martyrs’ Memorial. Independence Day celebrations were also held in Lakhipur and Dholai co-districts. The celebrations in Silchar concluded with a friendly football match between Cachar District Administration XI and Cachar District Bar Association XI, with the administration team winning 2-1.