Guwahati: Assam is set to benefit from the establishment of six additional Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals, as well as new train services, following an announcement by Union Minister of Railways, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw. These initiatives aim to boost the region’s economic development and were revealed during the Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit in Guwahati.
The new terminals will be located in Chaygaon, New Bongaigaon, Bihara, Hilara, Baihata, and Rangjuli, significantly improving the railway infrastructure in the area. The minister also confirmed that a Vande Bharat Express is already operational in the Northeast, with plans to soon launch another connecting Guwahati and Agartala. Additionally, two Amrit Bharat trains (Guwahati-Delhi and Guwahati-Chennai) are expected to start running this year.
Further developments include a railway engine midlife remanufacturing facility in Lumding and a Wagon Workshop in Bashbari, with a combined investment of Rs 300 crore. Vaishnaw announced the creation of a Greenfield Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at Bongora, Kamrup, with a project cost of Rs 120 crore. The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) will also be upgraded to a Deemed-to-be University, with plans for a new campus in Jagiroad.
The minister outlined plans for a semiconductor plant in Assam, emphasizing the state’s emerging role in electronics and semiconductor manufacturing. Guwahati Railway Station is set to be transformed into an IT hub, enhancing the region’s digital infrastructure.
Vaishnaw highlighted the government’s commitment to improving infrastructure and fostering industrialization, referring to the North East as the “New Engine” for India’s growth. He noted that since 2014, 1,824 km of new railway tracks have been constructed in Assam and the North East, along with the commissioning of two Gati Shakti cargo terminals at Moinarband and Cinnamara.
The minister reiterated plans to enhance connectivity between Assam and Bhutan, creating new economic opportunities. He expressed confidence that Assam would soon become a major industrial hub, a sentiment echoed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who acknowledged the central government’s ongoing support for new initiatives in the state.
Additionally, the government of Assam signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with 10 industry groups from the semiconductor sector in Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan, reinforcing international partnerships and investment in the state’s burgeoning semiconductor industry. Vaishnaw also noted India’s significant progress in electronics and mobile manufacturing, with over 98% of mobile phones now produced domestically.