Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stone for development projects worth approximately ₹24,000 crore in Silchar, Assam. Addressing a gathering, he emphasized the geographical and economic significance of the Barak Valley and said enhanced connectivity from the region would expand access to major markets in Southeast Asia.
The Prime Minister said Silchar is referred to as the gateway to the Barak Valley and described it as a place that has developed a distinct identity by combining language and culture. He said the fertile plains of the Barak River, the region’s tea gardens, farmers, trade routes, and educational institutions have continued to inspire development. According to the Prime Minister, the region connects not only Assam but also the entire Northeast and West Bengal.
He stated that he had come to the region to strengthen the Barak Valley area further in the 21st century. During his address, he referred to several initiatives related to regional development, agriculture, education, and infrastructure, and assured residents of improved opportunities.
Silchar–Shillong Access Controlled High-Speed Corridor
The Prime Minister performed the foundation ceremony for the Silchar–Shillong access-controlled high-speed corridor. The 166-kilometre corridor is being constructed at a cost of approximately ₹22,860 crore. According to the Prime Minister, the project will reduce travel time between Guwahati and Silchar from 8.5 hours to about five hours.
He said the corridor will connect Silchar with Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. The route will further extend connectivity through Bangladesh and Myanmar to markets in Southeast Asia.
The Prime Minister stated that these projects will enable the Barak Valley to develop into a major logistics and trade hub in the Northeast. He said projects related to railways, agriculture, and forests would increase employment opportunities for young people. He added that the objective of the Bharatiya Janata Party is to bring backward and border areas into the mainstream of development.
Remarks on Congress
During the address, the Prime Minister also criticized the Congress party. He said that for decades after Independence, Congress kept the Northeast distant from Delhi “both physically and emotionally.” He also said that Congress had severed the Barak Valley’s connection to the sea.
“Where the lock on the minds of Congress leaders closes, our work begins,” he said. The Prime Minister alleged that Congress adopted a “divide and rule” policy in Assam and kept young people entangled in violence and terrorism. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party had prioritized border villages by implementing the Vibrant Village Programme.
