Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday laid the foundation stone of seven infrastructure projects, including a new Raj Bhavan and Guwahati police commissioner’s office, worth Rs 1,776 crore in the state capital.
Sarma started with the foundation stone laying for a new Raj Bhavan at Kharghuli in presence of Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi.
“To be built for Rs 41.32 crore in 18 months, the new Raj Bhavan will be one of most beautiful governor houses in the country,” the chief minister tweeted after the ceremony.
He also laid the foundation stone for construction of the new Police Commissionerate at Khanapara, Guwahati.
The government will further spend Rs 544.44 crore for redevelopment of Guwahati Police Reserve Campus, Sarma said.
“It will also include residential quarters for police personnel. I am sure the new infrastructure will help the force in carrying out its duties efficiently,” said Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio.
As part of the efforts to make governance more citizen centric by making public services available under a single roof, he kick-started development activities of an integrated directorate complex at Betkuchi for Rs 808 crore.
Besides, an integrated office of the deputy commissioner of Kamrup Metropolitan, which primarily comprises the Guwahati city, will be constructed at Rupnagar area.
“To be built at a cost of Rs 58 crore, the G+2 building will help people avail various public services as it will house all departments that report to DC,” the chief minister said in another tweet.
He also announced that two auditoriums will be constructed – one inside the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra premises and the other at Khanapara.
“Keeping in view the growing need for a massive infrastructure push to make Guwahati Gateway to South-East Asia, we are going to construct a 5,000-capacity international auditorium at Khanapara,” Sarma said.
This auditorium, which will be the largest in the city, will be built at a cost of Rs 185 crore, he added.
In addition to this, Sarma laid the foundation stone for construction of the fourth auditorium on the premises of Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra.
“To be built with Rs 44.26 crore, the 800-capacity auditorium will be completed within 24 months,” he added.
He said the seven projects for which the foundation stones were laid on Thursday would act as catalysts in helping the government realise its aims and ambitions to transform Guwahati into the nerve-centre of all important activities in the field of economy, industries, cultural affairs and tourism in the region.
The new Raj Bhawan, once completed, would easily stand out as one of the most magnificent Governor’s residences in the entire country and the government of Assam ensures the project is completed within the time-frame of 18 months, as per the contract agreement, the chief minister said.
Along with senior officials of the government, the chief minister was on Thursday accompanied by ministers Bimal Bora and Atul Bora. Governor Jagdish Mukhi and his wife, Prem Mukhi, were present at the bhumi pujan site of the new Raj Bhawan.
