Gogoi hails 145;historic146; PM visit

Even as inclement weather prevented Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from attending two crucial functions, one each at Nagaon and Kokrajhar...

Even as inclement weather prevented Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from attending two crucial functions, one each at Nagaon and Kokrajhar, during his two-day trip to his adopted home state on Monday and Tuesday, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has described his visit as 8216;historic8217;, especially in view of a slew of announcements that the PM made.

Though the Prime Minister did not address a press conference, an official note issued by the PIB said Singh announced a number of measures, including construction of four new bridges across the Brahmaputra and establishment of a world-class university, a National Institute of Design and a Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology.

8220;No other Prime Minister had ever made such significant announcements that would go a long way in bringing about all-round development of Assam,8221; Gogoi said on Wednesday.

The four new bridges across the Brahmaputra would be: Dhola-Sadiya, Majuli-Jorhat, Numaligarh-Gohpur and Guwahati-North Guwahati. With three bridges being already there and two more under various stages of construction, the number of bridges on the mighty river would go up to nine by the end of 2013, the Chief Minister said.

8220;In fact, I have been pressing for five new bridges, the fifth being between Dhubri and Phulbari in lower Assam. But though the Prime Minister8217;s package did not include this, I am sure we will be able to get it sanctioned,8221; Gogoi said.

The state Government has already committed to providing suitable land for a world-class university and for establishment of an institute along the lines of the National Institute of Design at Ahmedabad, apart from the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Gogoi said.He said the Prime Minister had also okayed setting up of a Knowledge City in the state, apart from a Science City.

8220;While we have already earmarked about 2000 acres of land at Nagarbera, about 85 acres west of Guwahati is for the Knowledge City. The Science City will be set up in the state capital itself,8221; Gogoi said.

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8220;We are looking at creating infrastructure in such a manner that we can equip every young person with skills that will help him or her get the best available employment. The PM8217;s package specifically mentions about Central assistance for setting up a state skill development mission to encourage skill-development among the youth,8221; the Chief Minister said.

The Prime Minister8217;s package also includes establishment of a Centrally-sponsored model school in every block of the state.