At the heart of Guwahati, Indian Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia marked a milestone for Assam’s future. He opened the new North Eastern Science and Technology (NEST) Cluster at IIT Guwahati and laid the cornerstone for projects that total Rs 635 crore.
The investment plan is broad and bold. 65 new secondary‑school buildings will cost Rs 455 crore, giving students in remote villages better learning spaces. A Chayagaon‑Ukium road upgrade, priced at Rs 102.69 crore, will ease travel between towns. A new RCC bridge at Silonijan‑Dhansiri Par Ghat, worth Rs 20.59 crore, will improve crossing over the river.
Two industrial estates are also starting: one in Ramphalbil, Kokrajhar (Rs 14.40 crore) and another in Lakhibazar, Baksa (Rs 18.40 crore). All of these projects aim to boost jobs, connectivity, and quality of life across the state.
Scindia said, “Every brick laid and every classroom built is a promise kept in the service of aspiration.” His words reflected the broader vision for Assam as a hub of innovation and connectivity.
The NEST Cluster itself will cost Rs 22.98 crore. It will become a centre for the Northeast’s tech ecosystem, turning local ideas into global solutions. The cluster will focus on four key areas:
* Grassroots Innovation
* Semiconductors and Artificial Intelligence
* Bamboo‑Based Technologies
* Biodegradable Plastics
By working with programmes such as NE‑SPARKS and Ashtalakshmi Darshan, the cluster will host 3,200 students from across India in the region. Additionally, 800 Northeastern students will gain exposure to ISRO research.
The launch day drew senior officials from Assam’s government, education leaders and scientists, and budding entrepreneurs. Scindia also toured an IIT Guwahati exhibition, where students showcased 6G communication prototypes, biodegradable polymers, bamboo tissue culture, and low‑field MRI systems for affordable health care. “If you get this going, it will be the future,” he said, praising the students’ innovation.
Scindia highlighted the dramatic change in the Northeast under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. More than Rs 6.2 lakh crore has flowed into the region through the 10 % Gross Budgetary Support policy, spurring growth in industry, education and health. He cited landmark infrastructure such as the Bogibeel Bridge, Bhupen Hazarika Setu, Sela Tunnel and Jogighopa Multi‑Modal Logistics Park, which have reshaped Assam’s connectivity.
The Act East Policy has also opened trade routes, cutting travel time between Kolkata and Agartala from 31 to 10 hours thanks to new rail and road links across Bangladesh. Recent central projects worth Rs 6,500 crore in Darrang and Rs 18,530 crore across Assam reaffirm the government’s commitment to a holistic development agenda.
With these investments and new facilities, Assam is stepping up from a region long seen as landlocked to a thriving, future‑ready economy.
Source: ianslive
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