New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Assam is on the path of becoming an ‘A1 state’ and the day is not far when people will say “A for Assam”. The Prime Minister made the remarks while attending a mega Bihu programme at the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati on Friday. "I remember that when I came here during the Assembly election, I had said that the day is not far when people will say "A for Assam." Today, Assam is truly becoming an A1 state," news agency ANI quoted PM Modi as saying.
Assam held "the largest Bihu performance" at a single venue taking the traditional dance form to the global stage, with record 11,000 plus dancers and drummers taking part in the event.
Taking part in the mega programme, PM Modi described his experience as “unforgettable”.
PM Modi also rolled out a series of railway projects across the Northeast, apart from commissioning a methanol plant and laying the foundation stone for a bridge over the Brahmaputra River.
“Today, Assam and the northeast have been given the gift of AIIMS Guwahati and three new medical colleges. Today, several projects related to the rail connectivity of the northeast were also started,” he said.
The new railway projects inaugurated by PM Modi are Digaru-Lumding and Gauripur-Abhayapuri sections, doubling of tracks between New Bongaigaon and Dhup Dhara.
Electrification of the Raninagar-Jalpaiguri-Guwahati, Senchoa-Silghat and Senchoa-Mairabari sections was also launched. The total cost of these projects is Rs 7,300 crore.
PM Modi also virtually commissioned a methanol plant at Namrup in Dibrugarh by Assam Petrochemicals Ltd (APL) with a capacity of 500 tonnes per day (TPD), constructed at an investment of Rs 1,709 crore.
He also launched a beautification work of the 'Rang Ghar', an amphitheatre built by Ahom King Pramatta Singha in the 18th century.