PM Narendra Modi Launches Development Projects Worth Rs. 23,550 Crore in Silchar, Calls Barak Valley Key to Act East Policy.
Silchar (Assam):
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for multiple development projects worth Rs. 23,550 crore in Silchar, strengthening infrastructure, connectivity and education in Assam’s Barak Valley. Addressing a public gathering, Modi said the region is emerging as a crucial hub under India’s Act East Policy and will play a major role in connecting the country with South-East Asia.
Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister described Barak Valley as a culturally vibrant region where diverse traditions and languages coexist in harmony. He noted that Silchar serves as the gateway to the valley and represents a unique blend of Bengali, Assamese and tribal cultures. According to Modi, this diversity has fostered a strong spirit of unity and brotherhood among the people of the region.
Highlighting the economic importance of the valley, Modi said the fertile plains and tea gardens of the region have long supported the local economy and trade. The newly inaugurated and announced projects, he said, will further transform Barak Valley into a major logistics and trade hub for the North-East.
Among the major initiatives announced was the foundation stone for the Rs. 24,000-crore Shillong–Silchar High-Speed Corridor. The Prime Minister described the access-controlled corridor as the first project of its kind in the North-East and said it fulfils a long-standing demand of the region’s residents. Once completed, the corridor will significantly improve connectivity between Silchar and neighbouring states such as Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura.
Modi said the improved connectivity will also help the region link with markets in South-East Asia, boosting industry, tourism and agriculture in the valley. He emphasised that the government’s Act East Policy places the North-East at the centre of India’s strategic and economic engagement with neighbouring countries.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the construction of a new flyover in Silchar aimed at reducing the city’s traffic congestion. The flyover is expected to benefit thousands of daily commuters, including students of institutions such as National Institute of Technology Silchar, Silchar Medical College and Hospital and Assam University by saving travel time and improving connectivity across the city.
He further noted that electrification of more than 2,500 kilometres of the state’s rail network will ensure faster and cleaner rail transportation across Assam. According to Modi, the use of electrified railways will also help protect the natural environment of the Barak Valley.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the significant contribution of tea garden workers and farmers to the development of Assam. He said the government is committed to improving their welfare through several initiatives. Referring to the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, Modi said more than Rs. 20,000 crore has already been transferred to farmers in Assam, including thousands of beneficiaries in the Barak Valley who recently received financial assistance directly in their bank accounts.
In a major step to strengthen agricultural education in the region, Modi announced the establishment of the Barak Valley’s first Agriculture College at Patharkandi. He said the institution will support research and innovation in farming while helping local youth start agri-based enterprises and startups.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the government’s focus on developing border areas. He said the administration views border settlements not as the “last villages” but as the “first villages” of the country. Under the Vibrant Village Programme, which was launched from Cachar district, several villages in the Barak Valley are already witnessing improvements in infrastructure and public services.
Modi also praised the Assam government for granting land rights to thousands of tea garden families. He said the move will bring long-term security and dignity to workers whose families have lived and worked in tea plantations for generations. With legal land titles, these families will now be able to access government schemes such as housing, electricity and drinking water.
Highlighting the importance of education and skill development, the Prime Minister said the government is focusing on creating new opportunities for the youth of tea garden communities. According to him, improved access to schools, scholarships and employment programmes will help transform the lives of these communities.
He also pointed out that Assam is gradually emerging as an important health hub in the region with the development of institutions such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences and several specialised cancer hospitals.
Modi said Assam is now entering a new era of peace and economic growth and must safeguard this progress from forces that attempt to revive past instability. He added that the state is also preparing to become part of India’s growing semiconductor and technology ecosystem, offering new opportunities for young professionals.
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister said the development projects launched in Silchar mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Barak Valley. He expressed confidence that the region will soon emerge as a major centre of economic growth and connectivity in the North-East.
