PM Modi Unveils ₹18,500-Crore Development Push, Positions Assam as Hub of Self-Reliant India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a slew of major development projects in Assam, amounting to about ₹18,500 crore, underlining the state’s growing role in the vision of a self-reliant India. The projects were unveiled at Golaghat and other districts on September 14, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called them historic, saying they will benefit farmers, youth, industry and help further the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). One of the flagship initiatives is the establishment of the world’s first bamboo-based 2G bio-ethanol plant, built at a cost of around ₹5,000 crore. The plant will procure bamboo from local farmers and generate approximately 25 MW of green energy annually. This project has been hailed as a “win-win situation” both for farmers—who gain a steady demand for bamboo—and for the environment, through generation of renewable energy. Another major investment is the foundation of a ₹7,230 crore Polypropylene (PP) Plant, aimed at reducing India’s dependence on PP imports by about 20%. The plant is expected to save foreign exchange of roughly ₹700 crore per year, and generate up to 75,000 new jobs in Assam across its value chain in sectors such as automobile, textiles, and industry. Beyond these industrial projects, several infrastructure and welfare schemes were also announced. These include a new Medical College and Nursing College in Darrang (including a GNM school), the construction of the Guwahati Ring Road spanning 118.5 km that will connect Kamrup and Darrang districts with Meghalaya, and a 2.9-km bridge between Narengi and Kuruwa. These announcements together are part of an additional developmental package worth about ₹6,300 crore focused on health and infrastructure. Chief Minister Sarma expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi on social media, saying Assam is making “significant contribution towards Atmanirbhar Bharat,” and that under Modi’s leadership the state is witnessing rapid progress in healthcare, education, connectivity, and industrialization. He emphasized that Assam is among India’s fastest-growing state economies. On the political front, the visit and the announcements are being viewed as preparation for the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. Modi used the platform not only to highlight development initiatives but also to launch strong criticism of the opposition, particularly Congress—accusing it of supporting infiltration, undermining Assam’s heritage, and prioritizing vote bank politics over national security. Modi also announced what he termed a “Demography Mission”, citing concerns over infiltrators altering Assam’s demographics—a topic that has long been contentious in the state. Cultural recognition was also a theme: Modi recalled the legacy of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika, saying that his art symbolized India’s unity, and that awarding him the Bharat Ratna reflects the government’s commitment to highlighting North-East India’s contributions. Sarma echoed this, saying that the government has granted national recognition to Assam’s cultural heritage.