CM bats for hike in fund limits through externally aided projects

way2barak, June 19: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to allow the northeastern states to have access to enhanced funds through externally aided projects, citing “exceptional track record and honest implementation of schemes and projects” in the region.

He said that such projects, worth Rs 53,000 crore, are underway in Assam alone.

“On behalf of Assam and our sister states in the northeast, I made a passionate appeal to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to allow our governments access to enhanced limits through Externally Aided Projects (EAP), keeping in view our exceptional track record and honest implementation of schemes and projects,” Sarma said on X.

After attending a seminar on ‘Leveraging EAPS in North-Eastern States’ in Shillong, he said that over the past few years, these projects, backed by multilateral financial agencies, have empowered Assam to initiate multiple mega transformative projects, which were initially considered unviable due to the high cost of capital.

Currently, such projects worth Rs 53,000 crore are underway in Assam alone, in sectors such as building bridges and embankments, hospitals, robotics, mega power and infrastructure projects, Sarma said.

“Needless to say, Externally Aided Projects also bring in vibrant project management skills and global best practices into our government machinery,” he added.

Sarma maintained that the inaugural session of the seminar was “an excellent platform to improve collaboration and planning in the implementation of such projects”.

The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), in a post on social media, said Sarma highlighted the transformative growth of Assam.

Sarma cited the successful completion of the EAP-funded Lower Kopili Hydroelectric Project in just three-and-a-half years.

He also mentioned projects such as the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu in Guwahati and the ongoing Dhubri–Phulbari Bridge as examples of the state’s strong development momentum and effective utilisation of Externally Aided Projects, the CMO said.