The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a meeting of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ministry of Ayush (MoA) to review the ongoing projects of both the ministries in the Northeast region in Guwahati today. The Minister assigned top priority to complete critical projects of the Northeast by January, 2024.

During the review, senior officials of MoPSW and MoA presented status of ongoing projects in the region. More than ₹1100 crores were granted for the development of 25 projects in inland waterways in the Northeast region including ₹850 crores for 15 projects in Assam. The Union Minister directed the officials to complete the seven floating jetties at Jogighopa, Pandu, Biswanath, Nimati, Bindhakata, Uriamghat, and Sadiya. In addition, permanent jetties at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh, renovation of Jetty at Badarpur in Karimganj is also to be completed. One permanent jetty being constructed at Sonamura in Tripura is likely to be completed also. Shri Sonowal also reviewed progress of work on 15 floating jetties in Brahmaputra and 15 jetties in Barak river. For ensuring smooth passage of ships, he directed the officials of IWAI to regularly dredge 88 shallow passages on Brahmaputra already identified. The recent spurt in cargo and tourist jetties will be maintained with this initiative.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sonowal said, “Under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Ministries of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush have been working towards realising rich opportunities of Northeast India to make it the engine of India’s economic growth. Today, we had a very fruitful review meeting with the top officials of both the ministries regarding progress of critical projects in the Northeast. Taking Modi ji’s vision of Transformation via Transportation forward, we have identified critical projects in the region that will be operational by January 2024. We have identified the projects and set timeframe for competition of each project by this timeline. Out of the six projects in inland waterways, seven floating jetting on Brahmaputra, permanent jetty at Bogibeel, permanent jetty at Sonamura in Tripura, floating jetty at Bogibeel and Pandu and renovations of jetty at Badarpur will be completed. We are committed to the launch of these projects, worth ₹150 crores, by January, 2024.”

The Ministry of Ayush is currently constructing projects worth ₹286 crores across the Northeast. The Minister directed the officials to scale up and speed up the projects. The foundation stones laying ceremony of a Yoga & Naturopathy hospital worth ₹80.66 crores in Dibrugarh and for the new building of Regional Research Institute of Homoeopathy (RRIH) & integrated Ayush Wellness Centre at Guwahati worth ₹34.33 crores to be done by January, 2024. He also directed to complete the G+3 and G+2 buildings at Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) in Guwahati, with an investment of ₹10.45 crores, to be inaugurated by December, 2023.

Speaking further, he said, “Ayush is a major area of interest for our government led by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji. The Northeast has a rich potential to do much more in this sector. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi ji, we have been able to identify and start our work on multiple projects. Scaling up and speeding up is important to realise the optimum potential of Ayush sector in the Northeast. Out of at least 9 construction projects currently undergoing in the region, we expect concrete movement in at least 3 projects; I.e. inauguration of expansion at CARI, Guwahati, foundation stone at Yoga & Naturopathy hospital in Dibrugarh, and foundation stone of permanent complex of Regional Research Institute of Homoeopathy & Integrated Ayush centre at Azara in Guwahati by January, 2024.”

The Union Minister was also appraised about the current ongoing projects like Ayush Health & Wellness centres in the region. With a total approved 830 AHWCs in the region, more than 495 centres have become operational. More than 33 integrated Ayush hospitals (IAH) have been approved in the region out of which 09 are already functional. A total 8 Ayush education institutions (UG and PG) are being supported by the Ministry. Three new Ayush institutes - for Sowa Rigpa in Gangtok, for Homoeopathy in Keirao, Manipur and one in Dudhnoi - have been approved. In FY2022-23, more than 155 Ayush dispensaries were approved, with more than 100 in Assam.

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MJPS/NSK