GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated a newly constructed bridge and laid the foundation for a state-of-the-art sports complex in Baksa district, located within the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) on Thursday.
In his address, Chief Minister Sarma reaffirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to the development of the BTR, expressing confidence that these projects would fulfil the aspirations of the local population. The BTR, an autonomous area for the Bodo tribal-dominated regions, encompasses four districts, including Baksa.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the laying of the foundation stone for a Rs 43 crore District Sports Complex in Mushalpur, Baksa district. The complex features synthetic athletic tracks, a multipurpose indoor stadium for badminton, table tennis, volleyball, taekwondo, and more. Additionally, it will house an Olympic-size swimming pool, promoting sports and fitness activities in the region.
Highlighting the transformative impact of this sports complex, Chief Minister Sarma said, “On the completion of its construction, it will provide a huge boost to growth, development, and peace that BTR has been witnessing for the past couple of years.”
Sarma also announced financial grants of Rs 25 crore for the construction of a new Baksa District Commissioner’s Office and an additional Rs 5 crore for a new Circuit House. Furthermore, an allocation of Rs 500 crore is expected to be approved soon for the improvement of road infrastructure within the BTR, a move aimed at enhancing connectivity in the region.
In another significant development, the Chief Minister inaugurated a newly constructed bridge on the Barama-Dhamdhama-Tamulpur Road in Tamulpur district. This bridge, over the Pagladiya River, directly connects Tamulpur with Baksa, benefitting approximately 25,000 people who previously lacked adequate road connections between the two districts.
During his address, Chief Minister Sarma made a call to the youth of BTR to seize employment opportunities, particularly the upcoming recruitment drive to fill 5,600 vacancies in Assam Police. He encouraged them to apply for financial assistance under the Mukhya Mantri Atma Nirbhar Asom scheme, thereby fostering entrepreneurship among the unemployed youth.