Assam task force to oversee proper execution of PM Gati Shakti plan

GUWAHATI: A day after finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for 2022-23 in Parliament, Assam cabinet on Wednesday approved setting up a high level task force to oversee the “proper implementation of PM Gati Shakti plan," which is a transformative approach for economic growth and sustainable development.
The approach is driven by seven engines—roads, railways, airports, ports, mass transport, waterways, and logistics infrastructure, which will pull forward the economy in unison and will be supported by the complementary roles of energy transmission, IT communication, bulk water and sewerage, and social infrastructure.
The approach will be powered by Clean Energy and Sabka Prayas with the efforts from the Central Government, the state governments, and the private sector together leading to huge job and entrepreneurial opportunities for all, especially the youth.
To begin with, the PM GatiShakti master plan for expressways will be formulated in 2022-23 to facilitate faster movement of people and goods. Sitharman has announced in her speech that the national highways network will be expanded by 25,000 km in 2022-23 and Rs 20,000 crore will be mobilized through innovative ways of financing to complement the public resources.
The cabinet also sanctioned Rs 958 crore for upgrading 114 road-cum-embankments and construction of six rural bridges and Rs 11,031 crore to improve and upgrade vital road projects in the state.
The cabinet further sanctioned Rs 156 crore for acquisition of over 124 bigha private land to facilitate expansion of Jorhat (Rowriah) airport by Airports Authority of India.
The cabinet also set up a cabinet committee headed by ministers Dr Ranoj Pegu and Keshab Mahanta for finalisation of state emblem to create a distinctive symbol that will signify and visually represent Assam.