Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Proposes Defence Corridor Near Guwahati To Address Logistical Challenges Of Armed Forces

The Assam government is in discussions with the Ministry of Defence to establish a defence corridor spanning areas adjoining Guwahati towards Nagaon. 

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma emphasised the strategic significance of this initiative, stating that it aligns with Assam's growing role as a critical hub for infrastructure and industry.

The announcement was made during a roadshow and a roundtable meeting involving investors, diplomats from 36 countries, and key stakeholders, held ahead of the ‘Advantage Assam Summit 2.0.’

The event, scheduled for 25-26 february in Guwahati, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck among the dignitaries.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are also slated to attend.

Highlighting the need for a defence corridor in Assam, Sarma pointed out the logistical inefficiencies faced by the armed forces.

"The biggest deployment of Indian armed forces are either in the north-eastern States or Kashmir. Now, you take armoured tanks to the Northeast but when you have to repair the tank, you have to bring it back to the mainland to the ordnance factory. Why can’t Assam be a big defence corridor?," he said.

Sarma dismissed suggestions of positioning Assam as a gateway to South Asia due to current geopolitical tensions in Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Instead, he underscored Assam’s growing infrastructure as a catalyst for reciprocal trade flows with other parts of India.

"My point is if finished goods from Chennai can go to Assam, why can’t the reverse also happen," he noted.

In his keynote address, the Chief Minister outlined Rs 1 lakh crore worth of new infrastructure projects, including three additional Brahmaputra bridges, a satellite city near Guwahati with Singapore's assistance, and a railway line connecting Guwahati to Gelephu in Bhutan.

Assam's focus on green energy was a key theme, with Sarma urging industries, including the Tata semiconductor plant in Jagiroad, to adopt renewable energy sources. 

The state is growing at an impressive rate of 12.5 per cent, with infrastructure, education, and health witnessing rapid advancements over the past decade.

To attract investment, Assam plans to establish a Rs 25,000 crore production-linked incentive (PLI) fund.

"Assam has the requisite skill and ability to deliver. It has the wherewithal to ensure that those willing to invest get similar incentives as offered by any other State of the country,"  Sarma said.

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