Guwahati, January 2, 2026 — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma outlined ambitious development plans during his annual New Year interaction with the media, highlighting mega infrastructure projects and new welfare initiatives ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to lay the foundation stone for the ₹6,957 crore, 32-km elevated corridor through Kaziranga National Park on January 17 or 18. This wildlife-friendly project will reduce human-animal conflicts while improving traffic flow and boosting eco-tourism.

Other key projects include:

A ₹20-22,000 crore twin-tube underwater tunnel under the Brahmaputra, connecting Gohpur to Numaligarh, incorporating road and rail links to cut travel time from six hours to 20 minutes.
A new railway line from Kokrajhar to Bhutan’s Gelephu.
An aerocity near Guwahati airport on 68 acres, featuring hotels, convention centres, and other facilities.
Four new bridges over the Brahmaputra, with the Guwahati-North Guwahati bridge set for inauguration in February.

Sarma announced new welfare schemes:

The ‘Babu’ scheme, providing monthly financial aid to male students from low-income families (₹2,000 for postgraduates, ₹1,000 for undergraduates) starting February.
A one-time ₹8,000 Bihu gift for over 37 lakh women under the Arunodoi scheme, plus increased pensions for the elderly and support for cultural practitioners.
Plans for a ₹500 crore proton therapy facility, making Assam the first state with this advanced cancer treatment.

On law and order, Sarma pledged swift deportation of declared foreigners within one week, aiming for 10,000-15,000 expulsions annually. He hailed Assam as India’s fastest-growing economy (45% growth vs. national 29%) and top performer in implementing new criminal laws.

Sarma also remembered singer Zubeen Garg, who passed away in 2025, announcing the return of ₹2.9 crore in GST from his film’s earnings to the Kalaguru Foundation and progress in the ongoing investigation.