Scindia lays foundation stone for Rs 635 crore development projects in Assam

Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday inaugurated the North Eastern Science & Technology (NEST) Cluster at IIT Guwahati and laid the foundation stone for transformative development projects worth Rs 635 crore across Assam.

Speaking on the occasion, Scindia described Assam as “the heartbeat of a rising Northeast, where the mighty Brahmaputra flows as a symbol of continuity, courage, and creativity.” He said Assam, along the gateway to India’s eastern renaissance, is now emerging as the innovation and connectivity hub of a Viksit Purvottar.

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The minister laid the foundation stone for projects totalling Rs 635 crore, aimed at catalysing growth, connectivity, and opportunity across Assam—strengthening its role as the gateway to Southeast Asia.

Key projects include: – Infrastructure Development of 65 New Secondary School Buildings – Rs 455 Cr; Upgradation of Chayagaon–Ukium Road – Rs 102.69 Cr; RCC Bridge at Silonijan–Dhansiri Par Ghat – Rs 20.59 Cr; Development of Industrial Estate at Ramphalbil (Kokrajhar) – Rs 14.40 Cr, and Development of Industrial Estate at Lakhibazar (Baksa) – Rs 18.40 Cr.

Highlighting the human impact, Scindia said, “Every brick laid and every classroom built is a promise kept in the service of aspiration.”

The NEST Cluster, established with an investment of Rs 22.98 crore, will serve as the nerve centre of the Northeast’s innovation ecosystem—transforming local wisdom into global solutions. It will focus on four verticals: Grassroots Innovation; Semiconductors & Artificial Intelligence; Bamboo-Based Technologies; and Biodegradable Plastics.

The NEST Cluster will complement DoNER’s youth-centric programmes such as NE-SPARKS and Ashtalakshmi Darshan, through which 3,200 students from across India will visit the Northeast, while 800 Northeastern students will undertake scientific exposure visits to ISRO.

The minister also unveiled the NEST Cluster logo, beautifully designed by rural women trained in sustainable toy manufacturing, reflecting the spirit of innovation rooted in inclusivity and empowered by Nari Shakti.

Scindia underlined that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Northeast has undergone a remarkable transformation from being landlocked to land-linked and future-ready.