Assam Centre and State review key highway projects to ensure faster delivery and economic growth
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari held a high-level review meeting in New Delhi to fast-track the implementation of critical infrastructure projects in the state. The meeting focused on expediting flagship National Highway works, resolving project-level delays, and enhancing coordination between the central and state governments. Key updates were also shared on social media. Additionally, the Chief Minister held talks with ICICI Bank on CSR and financial inclusion, and LifeCare Ltd. on private sector entry into Assam’s health sector.
Assam has become a focal point in India’s highway infrastructure development strategy, with senior leadership from both the central and state governments collaborating to expedite the delivery of ongoing projects. At a recent review meeting held in New Delhi, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to evaluate the progress of ongoing national highway initiatives across the state. The meeting took place at the official residence of the Union Minister and was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), along with state representatives. Chief Minister Sarma emphasized the need for strong institutional support from the Centre to meet targeted timelines, especially on projects that are part of larger connectivity corridors in the northeast. He highlighted several road and bridge works that have seen delays due to inter-agency coordination issues, weather disruptions, and land acquisition challenges.
In response, Minister Gadkari assured full cooperation from MoRTH and reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to a time-bound execution model. He noted that the completion of these infrastructure projects will not only improve inter-district travel and public safety but also drive regional trade, logistics, and connectivity with neighboring states and countries such as Bhutan and Bangladesh. The strategic role of Assam in India’s Act East Policy and the Bharat Mala project was also discussed. Officials reviewed bottlenecks in select corridors and proposed monthly reviews at the project management unit (PMU) level. Gadkari emphasized that enhanced monitoring using digital dashboards, drone mapping, and on-site audits will help eliminate execution delays.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister K K Dwivedi, and other senior bureaucrats were also present. Both ministers took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share updates about the meeting. Sarma reiterated the state’s strong push for infrastructure-led development, while Gadkari echoed the Centre’s resolve to boost Assam’s connectivity and regional trade capabilities. Beyond the highway sector, Chief Minister Sarma also held meetings with representatives from the ICICI Foundation and ICICI Bank. The discussions centered around strengthening Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts in collaboration with the Government of Assam. The goal is to expand developmental initiatives in sectors like education, financial literacy, healthcare, and skilling.
The ICICI Bank team also proposed extending microcredit access in underserved districts by integrating banking solutions with rural livelihood schemes. Discussions included the possibility of launching new financial literacy modules and self-help group linkages, particularly in areas affected by seasonal flooding and migration. In a separate meeting, the Chief Minister hosted Jayesh Saini, Chairman of LifeCare Ltd., a Kenya-based healthcare conglomerate. Their discussions focused on the firm’s plans to enter the Assam healthcare market with targeted investments in diagnostic infrastructure, telemedicine, and private hospital services. LifeCare Ltd. had signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit held in February 2025 in Guwahati.
The Chief Minister’s office confirmed that LifeCare will soon roll out its first phase of health sector projects in Assam, with a focus on tertiary care services, medical equipment partnerships, and public-private collaboration in district hospitals. These efforts align with the state’s broader goals of boosting health infrastructure and attracting private capital into priority sectors. The day’s meetings underscore the growing emphasis on joint reviews between the Centre and state governments to accelerate infrastructure projects and investor-led development. Regular progress checks, backed by data-driven reporting, are emerging as key governance tools for large-scale public works.
The Assam government, under Sarma’s leadership, has positioned infrastructure and investment promotion at the core of its economic development model. With Union support and private sector collaboration now more active, the state is expected to see accelerated progress in road infrastructure, healthcare delivery, and rural financial access in the coming fiscal year.
