A new bridge on the Brahmaputra River and four new medical colleges were among projects worth Rs 7,876.45 crore sanctioned by the Assam government. During a meeting, the cabinet of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma approved Rs 3,107 crore for the four-lane bridge construction linking Palasbari near Guwahati airport with Sualkuchi. The proposed bridge will lessen the distance between Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati and Lower Assam districts by 25 km. The structure of a length of 4.08-km will also provide seamless connectivity from the airport to Amingaon. In 2017, the second Saraighat Bridge joining Guwahati city with Amingaon was inaugurated. Sarma’s cabinet also decided to upgrade 43 government ITIs and 34 polytechnic institutes to centres of excellence in collaboration with Tata Technologies Ltd (TTL). Skilled workers working in tea and food processing and handicrafts and textiles industries in Assam will be upskilled, under the same project worth Rs 2,390 crore. Administrative clearance of Rs 2,000 crore was accorded to create four new medical colleges and hospitals in Golaghat, Bongaigaon, Dhemaji, and Morigaon. Besides, the contract to construct the terminal and riverine infrastructure at Guwahati Gateway Ghat for Rs 289.45 crore was also sanctioned by the cabinet. A state Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) Assam Inland Waterways Company Ltd (AIWCL) will be formed to install, maintain and operate cost-effective water transportation services within Assam. AIWCL will also create and maintain jetties, all-weather ports, and passenger terminals. The state government also sanctioned the recruitment of 4,868 graduate and post-graduate teachers. The cabinet also improved the state subsidy for houses being built under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban, Housing For All (PMAY-HFA) to Rs 60,000 from Rs 50,000. It also sanctioned the Rs 30,000 release under the Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) element of the scheme as the third instalment to those who have reached roof level for the fulfilment of thousands of incomplete houses. A total of 1,16,380 beneficiaries can benefit from the facility, and Assam will be the first state to undertake such an innovative step. Image Source Also read: Assam starts detailed consultation on draft Assam RE policy 2022