3564 graduate & 1304 post-graduate teachers to be appointed: Assam Cabinet

May 3: In the weekly Assam Cabinet on 3 May, several key decisions related to building a new bridge over the Brahmaputra, hiking State subsidy for PMAY houses, recruitment of teachers, new medical colleges, boosting river transport and upgrading ITIs & polytechnics etc., among others were taken. The Cabinet Meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma. 

KEY DECISIONS:

Bridge on Brahmaputra:

• ‘Assam Bridge Project – II’ approved – 4-lane extradosed PSC bridge over the Brahmaputra connecting Palasbari & Sualkuchi to be constructed
• Approximate cost: Rs. 3,197 cr
• Length: 4.08 km
• Will shorten distance between LGBI Airport and lower Assam districts by 25 km and ensure seamless connectivity to Sualkuchi & Amingaon from the airport

PMAY housing subsidy:

• Enhancement of State subsidy for houses being constructed under PMAY HFA (Urban) from Rs.50,000 to Rs.60,000 in respect of all incomplete houses, which will help beneficiaries in meeting any additional expenditure
• Approval to release of Rs.30,000 for early completion of houses under Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) component of PMAY HFA (Urban) as 3rd installment to those beneficiaries who have reached roof level, which will help complete thousands of incomplete houses
• This will benefit 1,16,380 beneficiaries with additional spending of approximately Rs.116.3 cr, making Assam the first state to undertake such an innovative step.

Boost to river transport: 

• Contract for construction of Terminal & Riverine Infrastructure at Guwahati Gateway Ghat approved
• Total contract value: Rs.289.45 cr
• Will integrate connectivity & safe communication in ferry ghats of Guwahati & North Guwahati along with boosting tourism potential of the Brahmaputra

Assam Inland Waterways Company Ltd (AIWCL), a fully-owned State Govt company to be formed
Company’s mandate to be-

• Establish, maintain and operate cost-effective water transportation services within Assam, including river cruises

• Develop & maintain all-weather ports, jetties, passenger terminals, etc

Upgrading Polytechnics & ITIs:

• 34 Polytechnics and 43 Government ITIs to be upgraded as Centres of Excellence in association with Tata Technologies Limited (TTL)
• Will provide upskilling opportunities to skilled workers of Assam working in various industries like tea processing, food processing, handicrafts & textiles, etc
• Proposed project cost: Rs.2,390 cr

Teacher recruitment:

► Recruitment of Graduate & Post Graduate teachers in Govt and Provincialised High & Higher Secondary Schools approved.

Relief to HPC employees:

• Approval to release of 2308.75 cr as part of the Rs.700-cr relief package to employees of Nagaon Paper Mill and Cachar Paper Mill of Hindustan Paper Corporation Ltd
• This will provide further support to the employees of the paper mills and is in line with the commitment of the State Govt

New Medical Colleges:

• Administrative approval to construction of new Medical Colleges & Hospitals at Bongaigaon, Dhemaji, Golaghat and Morigaon
• The hospitals will be constructed under NIDA and implemented by Assam Infrastructure Financing Authority (AIFA)
• Total project cost: Rs.2,000 cr

Assam Complex in Maharashtra:

• Assam Complex to be established at Tiware village, Raigarh district of Maharashtra for promoting State’s rich cultural heritage
• Committee formed to negotiate price of land; will submit report within 20 days.