Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre for boosting the state’s central devolution share in the Union Budget. Sarma praised the move as a sign of New Delhi’s trust in Assam’s development path. The state has been allocated Rs 49,725 crore this year, a significant increase in central devolution, which is expected to bolster Assam’s development plans.
Officials in Assam highlighted that this enhanced allocation will enhance the state’s fiscal capacity, allowing for increased investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, connectivity, and social welfare schemes. The rise in central devolution is anticipated to offer more flexibility to the state in executing region-specific development projects. Sarma emphasized that Assam’s financial improvement is a result of sustained reforms, better governance, and targeted development efforts in recent years.
Assam has seen consistent growth in its own tax and non-tax revenues, coupled with improved utilization of central funds, according to state finance department officials. The Chief Minister credited the Centre’s support for expediting major infrastructure projects in Assam, such as highways, bridges, railways, inland waterways, and urban development schemes. These investments are crucial for integrating Assam more closely with national and regional markets, boosting employment, and attracting private investments.
Political analysts view the increased central devolution as significant, especially as Assam positions itself as a key growth hub in the Northeast. The state government aims to establish Assam as a gateway to Southeast Asia, focusing on logistics, tourism, manufacturing, and energy sectors. With the additional funding, the Assam government plans to expand its development initiatives in alignment with the broader vision of inclusive and balanced regional growth under Viksit Bharat.
