Kamrup (Assam) [India] June 12 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday visited the proposed site for an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in the Marabhita and Dighalkuchi localities in Kamrup district, which recently received the final go-ahead from the Union government.
A total of approximately 574 bighas of government land has been selected for the upcoming IIM, the second in the Northeastern region after IIM Shillong in Meghalaya.
The Chief Minister also visited Rajdhar Bora Higher Secondary School in Azara and inspected the infrastructure development activities being undertaken there.
Additionally, he inspected the renovation works for the upcoming "sub-district office" at Jalukbari, currently known as Haj Bhawan.
Speaking to media persons at Marabhita, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said the final nod by the Centre for an IIM in the state is a matter of great happiness and pride for the people of Assam.
"The IIM, once functional, shall bestow Guwahati and its vicinity the honour of hosting four of the country's most prominent institutions of higher learning -- an Indian Institute of Technology, an All India Institute of Medical Sciences, a National Law University, as well as an Indian Institute of Management," the Chief Minister stated.
He added that investment to the tune of Rs. 1,000 crore is likely to be approved by the Centre for the IIM.
The Chief Minister added that a School of Planning & Architecture might also come up near the upcoming IIM.
He said such positive developments in the field of higher and specialized education will contribute towards the transformation of the Palashbari Assembly constituency into an educational hub in the region.
The Chief Minister further stated that certain demands of the local residents, such as an alternative road connecting the upcoming IIM with the highway, shall also be considered with all sincerity by the government.
He also expressed gratitude to the residents for their wholehearted support for the upcoming IIM in their locality.
Later, while visiting Rajdhar Bora Higher Secondary School in Azara, the Chief Minister said the ongoing infrastructure development activities across more than 400 government high schools and higher secondary schools in the state shall fulfil most of the infrastructure needs of Assam's school education system.
He added that infrastructure upgradation and development of another 126 schools shall be approved shortly by the government, thereby taking the total number of schools receiving such assistance from the government to over 500.
While visiting the upcoming under-renovation "sub-district office" at Jalukbari, the Chief Minister said there shall be a total of four sub-district offices in Kamrup Metropolitan district, and the aim is to have all these become functional by August of this year.
The Sadar Sub-division of Kamrup Metropolitan shall, however, not be recognized as a "sub-district," the Chief Minister said.
The government aims to see that all the proposed "sub-districts" across the state become fully functional by 2025.
He expressed hope that the sub-district offices shall greatly aid in fulfilling the genuine hopes and aspirations of the people of the state in the days to come.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu and Chief Secretary Ravi Kota. Palashbari Member of the Legislative Assembly Hemanga Thakuria was present at the site of the upcoming IIM. (ANI)
