SILCHAR : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 24 said that while the previous Congress government in Assam had merely announced Rs 1,000 crore for the development of the entire Barak Valley, his government has now rolled out projects worth the same amount for Silchar city alone.

Addressing a gathering in Silchar, Sarma recalled that during the tenure of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, the Congress government’s announcement of Rs 1,000 crore for Barak Valley had made headlines. “I was a minister in the Congress government when Tarun Gogoi was the Chief Minister.

At that time, the announcement of Rs 1,000 crore for the development of Barak Valley was seen as revolutionary. Whether we actually received the full amount or not is another matter,” he said.

The Chief Minister contrasted that symbolic announcement with the present government’s tangible progress. “Today, under our government, in a single day we are laying the roadmap for projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore for Silchar city alone,” Sarma said.

He detailed key upcoming projects in Silchar, including a Rs 300 crore project at Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH), a Rs 100 crore bridge at Madhura Ghat, and an additional major flyover project in the city.

“Together, these add up to more than Rs 600 crore, and with the rest of the ongoing and upcoming works, the total investment surpasses Rs 1,000 crore — specifically for Silchar,” he added.

The Chief Minister’s statement underscores the BJP government’s renewed focus on infrastructure development in the Barak Valley, signaling a significant push for urban transformation in Silchar and surrounding areas.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that all processes related to the new airport in Dholoo will be completed by the end of this year, paving the way for a modern airport in Silchar in the near future.

Speaking on the project, the Chief Minister stated that the Dholoo Airport has already received clearance from the Airport Authority of India.

“Now it will go to the Standing Finance Committee, and thereafter to the Cabinet,” he added, outlining the final steps before construction and operationalisation. The new airport is expected to significantly improve connectivity in the region, boosting trade, tourism, and overall development for Silchar and the surrounding areas.