NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Assam to lay the foundation stone of two hospitals and launch ‘Asom Mala‘, a programme for state highways and major district roads, at Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district in Assam.
Later in the day, Modi is also scheduled to visit West Bengal where he is going to dedicate the LPG import terminal built by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited to the nation in Haldia and few other infrastructure projects.
This is PM Modi’s second visit to these two election-bound states in a month after his last visit on the occasion of Parikrama Diwas celebrated on January 23.
Here are hey highlights from PM Modi’s speech in Assam:
* The love given to me by people of Assam keeps calling me back here again and again.
* I saw the diyas decoration ahead of my arrival. It looked beautiful. I am grateful to people here.

* I am blessed to come to Dhekiajuli, where freedom fighters achieved martyrdom for India’s freedom.
* North East India is heading towards development and I am happy that Assam is driving this change.
* Assam is an example of how collective efforts yield good results.
* Till 2016, Assam had only six medical colleges, but in the last five years we have begun development on six new medical colleges.
* After the historic Bodo Agreement, the Bodo Territorial Council elections. have written a new chapter of trust and development in the region.
* There is no lack of talent in the nation but only a lack of opportunities. I envision that as we enter 75 years of independence, every state should have at least one college that teaches a course in regional languages.
* One technical college and one medical college soon will be opened in the Assamese language.
* Work for AIIMS in Guwahati is going on in full swing. Guwahati will develop as the centre for modern medical science.
* More than 350 hospitals in Assam are now working under the umbrella of Ayushman Bharat. Today Ayushman Bharat has benefitted more than 1.25 crore people of Assam.
* The way India is driving the largest vaccine drive, the whole world is lauding our efforts.
Foundation stone laid for two medical colleges
The two medical colleges and hospitals are being set up at Biswanath and Charaideo at a total estimated project cost of over Rs 1,100 crores. Each hospital will have a 500-bed capacity and 100 MBBS seat capacity. The increase in the number of medical colleges and hospitals will not only mitigate the shortage of doctors in the state but also make Assam a hub for tertiary care and medical education for the entire North-Eastern region.
Asom Mala launch
‘Asom Mala’, aimed at helping improve state highways and major district roads network in the state. The government said that Asom Mala will provide quality inter-linkage roads between national highways and rural roads network as well as facilitate seamless multi-modal transportation. It will interconnect economic growth centres with transportation corridors and improve inter-state connectivity.