Assam CM unveils Rs 2,218-crore development blitz in Majuli, empowers 31,952 women entrepreneurs

Dispur, Feb 13: In a major development push for Assam’s river island district, Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 2,218 crore in Majuli, while also distributing seed capital cheques to 31,952 women entrepreneurs.

Addressing a public gathering, the Chief Minister said Majuli had never witnessed such an unprecedented scale of development in the past, asserting that the initiatives would transform the district’s administrative, educational and cultural landscape.

Among the key projects inaugurated were the academic building and girls’ hostel of Majuli Cultural University, constructed at a cost of Rs 51 crore. The three-storey academic block can accommodate 1,880 students and houses the offices of the Vice Chancellor and Registrar, along with staff rooms and allied facilities. The four-storey hostel has a capacity of 178 students.

The Integrated District Commissioner’s Office at Garamur has been built at Rs 24.83 crore, while the District Transport Officer’s Office between Garmur and Kamalabari was completed at Rs 3.57 crore. A Government Model Degree College, spread across 30 bighas and constructed at Rs 33.17 crore, includes three academic blocks, a girls’ hostel, faculty quarters, residences for Grade III and IV staff, and official quarters for the Principal and Warden.

Cultural infrastructure also received a boost with the inauguration of the Rs 3.64 crore Dakhinpat Satra Museum, equipped with audio-visual rooms, exhibition halls, a strong room and study spaces. At Garamur, a three-storey office for the Senior Superintendent of Police and the Jyoti Bishnu Cultural Complex auditorium were constructed at Rs 4.20 crore and Rs 1.25 crore, respectively.

Strengthening connectivity, the state government upgraded the road from Balichapori in Majuli to Bongaonmara in Lakhimpur and constructed two bridges over the Lohit and Subansiri rivers. The 702.30-metre bridge over the Lohit River at Selekghat was inaugurated on Thursday. Sarma also launched the reconstruction of the Majuli–Jorhat bridge project, which had been stalled since September 2024.

In a significant outreach to grassroots entrepreneurs, the Chief Minister distributed Rs 10,000 each as seed capital to 31,952 women beneficiaries. He said the assistance marked only the beginning of a larger initiative aimed at supporting women until they achieve “Lakhpati” status, underscoring the government’s focus on women-led economic empowerment.