New Year, New Assam: CM Says State Is India’s Fastest-Growing Economy

On the very first day of the New Year, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma presented a comprehensive account of the state government’s performance over the last five years, asserting that Assam has emerged as India’s fastest-growing state economy between 2020 and 2025.

Citing Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, Sarma said Assam recorded an economic growth of around 45 per cent, significantly higher than the national average growth of 29 per cent during the same period.

“According to RBI data, Assam is today the fastest-growing state in the entire country—not just in the Northeast,” Sarma said.

Economic Growth, Income Rise and Revenue Expansion

The Chief Minister said Assam’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has expanded from ₹4.10 lakh crore in 2020 to ₹7.41 lakh crore in the current financial year.

He said per capita income has risen by 54 per cent, increasing from ₹1,03,371 in 2021 to ₹1,59,185 at present, while state revenue has grown by 53 per cent.

“Assam has now become a stable economy state. Individual income has increased and public confidence has strengthened,” he said.

Law and Order, Policing Reforms and Conviction Rates

Sarma said law and order has improved substantially, with the number of criminal cases registered in the state dropping from 1,33,229 in 2021 to 43,748 in the current year.

He said police performance has improved, with charge sheets now filed in 81 per cent of registered cases, countering allegations of delays.

“If 100 cases are registered, charge sheets are being filed in 81 cases with all required documents and evidence,” he said.

The conviction rate, which stood at 6 per cent in 2021, has now increased to 26.38 per cent, though it remains below the national average of about 35 per cent.

War on Drugs and Illegal Immigration

The Chief Minister said Assam has intensified its war on drugs, leading to the seizure of narcotics worth approximately ₹2,919 crore in the last five years.

On illegal immigration, Sarma said nearly 2,000 foreign nationals have been identified and pushed back in recent months.

“Following the Supreme Court verdict, illegal immigrant expulsion has now been adopted as a state policy. Pushback is being carried out within a week of identification,” he said.

He added that no bilateral agreement is required for such action and that the state has adopted a non-compromising approach.

Unprecedented Infrastructure Development

Highlighting infrastructure growth, Sarma said Assam has witnessed unprecedented development over the last five years.

After the Dhola–Sadiya and Bogibeel bridges, four major bridges over the Brahmaputra are nearing completion:

• Jorhat–Majuli Bridge

• Palasbari–Sualkuchi Bridge

• Guwahati–North Guwahati Bridge (to open in February)

• Dhubri–Phulbari Bridge (India’s largest river bridge)

He said two more bridges over the Brahmaputra will be completed by 2027.

Kaziranga Elevated Corridor & Underwater Tunnel

The Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of a 34.45-km elevated wildlife corridor at Kaziranga, built at a cost of ₹6,957 crore.

He also announced the Gohpur–Numaligarh twin-tube underwater tunnel, Assam’s first beneath the Brahmaputra, which will now include both road and rail connectivity.

“Once completed, the distance between Gohpur and Numaligarh will reduce from 240 km to just 35 km,” Sarma said.

The project cost has been revised from ₹12,000 crore to nearly ₹20,000 crore, with central approval granted.

Guwahati Expansion & New Infrastructure Projects

Sarma said Guwahati is being transformed into a modern urban hub with several landmark projects, including:

• New terminal at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport

• Sankardev Tirtha / Abirbhav Khetra

• Sri Sri Madhabdev Kalakshetra at Bihpuria

• Sadhinata Sangrami Udyan at Jorhat

• Gateway Guwahati Ghat Terminal

• Guwahati Riverfront Project at Uzan Bazar, popularly known as Sati Radhika Udyan

• Swahid Smarak Kshetra

He also announced:

• An upcoming elevated corridor from Guwahati airport to Jalukbari

• A 60-acre Aero City (Airport Hub) near the airport with hotels and convention centres

Healthcare and Education Expansion

Sarma said Assam now has 14 operational medical colleges, with Bongaigaon Medical College set to begin this year.

The government has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank to demolish the old GMCH building and construct a new hospital at a cost of ₹2,200 crore.

India’s First Public Proton Therapy Facility

In a landmark healthcare decision, Sarma said Assam will become India’s first state to install a proton therapy machine in the public health system, with an investment of ₹500 crore.

“This will boost medical tourism and allow cancer patients from across India to seek advanced treatment in Assam,” he said.

Investment, Industry and Global Recognition

Sarma said Assam has been included among India’s top states showcased at the World Economic Forum in Davos, alongside Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Key investments include:

• ₹27,000 crore Tata Semiconductor project

• ₹28,000 crore Numaligarh Refinery expansion

• ₹10,100 crore Namrup urea project

• ₹40,000 crore ultra-supercritical thermal power project at Chapar

• ₹2,000 crore methanol plant at Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited

Agriculture, Welfare and Employment

The Chief Minister said the government purchased 8.5 lakh metric tonnes of paddy last year, compared to 2 lakh metric tonnes earlier, and will extend procurement to mustard.

He said one lakh youth have been supported under entrepreneurship schemes, while 90 lakh students received free admission benefits.

School dropout rates have fallen significantly across all levels, he added.

Governance, Culture and Wildlife

Sarma said the government has:

• Enacted 71 new laws, amended 156, and repealed 300+ obsolete laws

• Held 188 cabinet meetings, the highest in Assam’s history

• Taken 2,589 cabinet decisions

He highlighted cultural recognition of Lachit Borphukan and Bhupen Hazarika, reported zero rhino poaching in 2025, and said the discovery of a golden tiger in Kaziranga in January 2025 was a moment of pride.

“From a protest-driven state, Assam has transformed into the fastest-growing investment state in India,” Sarma said.

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