Himanta Biswa Sarma unveils Rs 500-crore development push in Upper Assam, focus on education, healthcare and connectivity

In a major infrastructure and development push in Upper Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday laid the foundation stones for multiple projects worth over Rs 500 crore.

The day-long visit spanned across Dibrugarh, Naharkatia, and the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH), with a clear focus on strengthening higher education, healthcare infrastructure, and regional connectivity.

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The first major announcement was made at Dibrugarh University, where Sarma launched projects totalling Rs 146.43 crore under the Chief Minister’s Special Grant and the Pradhan Mantri Uchhatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).

Emphasising the university’s legacy and future role in the region’s academic landscape, the Chief Minister described it as “an epicentre of learning” that is now poised for its next phase of growth.

These upgrades, he said, will significantly enhance the academic and student ecosystem. The projects include new hostels, improved internal infrastructure, staff housing, and modern sports and fitness facilities.

Under the PM-USHA scheme, additional academic buildings, research and incubation centres, upgraded libraries, and computer labs are planned, aimed at creating a comprehensive and modern higher education environment.

Later, at the Assam Medical College and Hospital, Sarma laid the foundation for a Rs 357-crore expansion.

Spread across nearly 196 acres, the plan includes new teachers’ quarters and a hostel for students. The Chief Minister noted that upgrading AMCH had been a long-standing promise of his government and that its implementation now reflects a commitment to bolster healthcare education and services in the region.

The Chief Minister’s next stop was Naharkatia, where he inaugurated and laid foundation stones for another tranche of projects worth Rs 130 crore.

These included the construction of a Co-District Commissioner’s Office, a road overbridge on the Namrup-Naharkatia route, and new infrastructure for Naharkatia Higher Secondary School and Konwarigaon High School. In a notable addition to the region’s sports facilities, Sarma also announced a dedicated hockey stadium in Naharkatia.

One of the highlights of the Naharkatia visit was the announcement of a Tata Centre of Excellence at the ITI Naharkatia campus.

The Chief Minister officially handed over the institute to the state’s Department of Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship, signalling a renewed emphasis on vocational and industry-aligned training for the youth.

Sarma emphasized the importance of skilling initiatives that align with modern employment opportunities and industrial demand.

The cumulative investment across the three locations marks one of the most significant multi-sectoral development initiatives in Upper Assam in recent times. Officials accompanying the Chief Minister said that these projects are not only about infrastructure but also about enabling the region’s human capital through education, healthcare, and skill development.