On May 26, 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s longest river bridge, the Dhola-Sadiya bridge. This bridge has been named after late legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika. Sadiya was the birth place of Bhupen Hazarika.
- Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari. Assam governor Banwarilal Purohit and Assam Chief Minister Sarbanada Sonowal accompanied PM Modi at the inauguration function.
- The inauguration of this bridge coincides with BJP-led NDA Government’s three years in power.
- Central Government expects that this bridge will transform the road connectivity in the North-East.
Details about Dhola-Sadiya Bridge in Assam:
The bridge is a three lane carriage way which links Assam to Arunachal Pradesh.
- 9.15 km long Dhola-Sadiya Bridge is longer than the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (5.6 km) in Mumbai.
- It has been built at a cost of about Rs 2,056 crore over river Lohit, a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
- The bridge will reduce the distance from Rupai in Assam to Meka/Roing in Arunachal Pradesh by 165 km.
Strategic Significance of Dhola-Sadiya Bridge in Assam:
The bridge has strategic significance since it is near Anini, 100km from China border and will thus enhance India’s defence capabilities in the north eastern region.
- Commuting through this bridge, the army convoys will take less time in reaching the posts along the India-China border in Dibang and Anjaw, which currently takes two days.
- The bridge has the capacity to withstand the passage of 60-tonne tanks.
PM Modi lays foundation stone for two key projects AIIMS & ICAR in Assam
On May 26, 2017, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for an Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) at Gogamukh in Dhemaji district of Assam.
- He also laid the foundation stone for an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), at Changsari in Kamrup district of Assam by pressing a remote from the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati. AIIMS in Kmarup will be constructed at a cost of Rs 1,123 crore under ‘Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana’. It will be completed within the next four years.
PM Narendra Modi launches Sampada scheme for value addition of agriculture produce
On May 26, 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of the new scheme SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters) which will bring value addition of agriculture produce and will thereby increase farmers’ income. PM announced this scheme at a ceremony for laying the foundation stone of Indian agricultural research institute in Gogamukh in Assam
Details about SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters):
Financial Outlay: Rs. 6000 crore
To be implemented by: FY 2019-20
Objectives:
- To bring all ongoing schemes like mega food parks and cold chain projectsunder one umbrella scheme
- Bring down post harvest losses to almost zero level
- Provide high quality food to consumers at affordable price
- Doubling of farmers’ income
