Guwahati |  Adani Group Director Jeet Adani on Sunday praised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s approach to executing development projects, describing his “energy and speed” as “completely Gen Z” at an event to lay the foundation stone for a proposed 3,200 MW thermal power project in Dhubri district.

Speaking at the foundation ceremony at Chapar, Adani said the group’s initial engagement with Assam was aimed at contributing to the state’s development but later opened up opportunities for larger investments. He said Sarma’s emphasis on timely execution and monitoring of projects had encouraged the group to expand its engagement with the state.

“He doesn’t want to see development just sitting on paper, files, or presentations – he wants to see it on the ground, as fast as possible,” Adani said. Describing the chief minister’s working style, he said Sarma placed emphasis on quick decision-making, implementation and openness to new ideas.

“Let me put it differently – Himanta Da’s energy and speed are completely Gen Z!” Adani said, adding that although Sarma was the chief minister, his approach resembled that of a CEO monitoring project timelines and delivery. Adani also highlighted Assam’s investment potential and said economic growth could be pursued alongside social development and environmental considerations.

The remarks came as Sarma performed the Bhumi Pujan for the proposed 3,200 MW Ultra Super Critical Thermal Power Project at Chapar. Sarma said the project would be developed in phases, with the first 800 MW capacity planned initially. A further 800 MW is targeted by 2031, taking the capacity to 1,600 MW, while the full 3,200 MW capacity is expected to be achieved by 2035.

The project is expected to involve an investment of around Rs 50,000 crore, according to the chief minister. Adani Power had earlier announced an investment of around Rs 48,000 crore for the greenfield project, which will comprise four 800 MW units.

Sarma said the project would strengthen Assam’s power-generation capacity and reduce the state’s dependence on electricity purchased from outside. Around 25,000 people are expected to be engaged during the construction phase, while about 5,000 jobs are projected during regular operations, he said.

The chief minister said reliable power availability would also help Assam attract industries and new investments. He noted that prospective investors had previously raised concerns over the availability of electricity for large projects.

The project will require supporting transmission infrastructure to evacuate the generated power. The Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited has initiated work on infrastructure including a 400-kV Chapar-Rangia transmission line and associated substations.

Sarma also referred to the state government’s proposed one-lakh-bigha land bank, saying it would help ensure that land availability did not become a constraint for future investments. He said the combination of power generation, transmission infrastructure and land availability would support industrial expansion and employment generation in the state.