Three years of Modi Govt: PM inaugrates India's longest river bridge, says NE to be South-Asia's trade hub

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the country's longest bridge over the Lohit river in Assam on the third anniversary of his government and said the NDA dispensation was working to make the northeast region a trade hub for southeast Asia.

Dedicating to the nation the 9.15 km-long bridge, named after Dadasaheb Phalke awardee and legendary lyricist-singer Bhupen Hazarika who hailed from Sadiya, he said it will serve as the foundation for a new economic revolution and help India in its efforts to become a superpower.

Speaking on the Act East Policy, the prime minister said he wanted the northeast region to become a trade hub for southeast Asia by connecting the area for economic activity.

"For this, we are laying stress on development of infrastructure and making the northeast a tourism centre.

Lakhs of tourists would also come to Kamakhya temple and improve the economy," he said.

"Stress in now being laid on what was never done earlier... Electricity, roads, rail infrastructure and optical fibre network in the northeast will connect every corner of the region with the country," Modi said.

"The bridge will not only save money, reduce travel time but comes as a foundation for the beginning of a new economic revolution. That is why the whole nation has its eyes on this bridge," he said.

"The reduction of distance by 165 km and cutting travel time by seven to eight hours will open new doors for economic development... The bridge will bring development to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

"For fulfilling India's dream of becoming a top economically developed nation, a superpower, the northeast region is the place to begin with," Modi said.

"If development is to be made permanent, then infrastructure is the first requirement. It is on the two tracks of physical infrastructure and social infrastructure that complete development is achieved," he said.

The prime minister said the government has been striving for long-lasting development by creating permanent infrastructure for fulfilling the nation's dreams.

Modi said the bridge would open new road for the high- quality ginger grown by farmers of the region and improve their economic condition.

If the farmers take up organic ginger farming, a global market would open up for them, he said.

Greeting the people here in Assamese, Modi asked them to switch on the torches of their mobiles to "show to the nation that you are celebrating the occasion".

Amidst cheers by the gathering, Modi said he considered himself fortunate to be here as Gujarat, where Dwarikanath is from, is his birthplace, and Sadiya, which was known as Kundil Nagar, was where Lord Krishna had come.

He recalled the role played by the former MLA Jagadish Bhuyan in the construction of the bridge as it was he who wrote to then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on May 29, 2003.

"The government changed in the middle and your dreams got paused. If work had continued then you would have had the bridge 10 years ago. In the last three years efforts started to complete Vajpayee's work," Modi said.

He said Assam Chief Minister Sarbanada Sonowal in the first one year of his government is trying to bring the state out of the condition it was in when he took over the reins.

Before the bridge was constructed people had to depend on ferry boats to cross the Lohit river.

"Now, the bridge will be open 365 days 24X7 for movement of traffic. We are giving stress on development of roads, bridges, rails, air and waterways which are environment- friendly and economical. New waterways will start from here," the prime minister said.

The bridge built at a cost of Rs 2,056 crore is 3.55 km longer than the Bandra-Worli Sea link. The length of the bridge, including viaducts, is 9.15 km with 7.3 km approach road from the Dhola side and 12.5 km from Sadia side.

The carriageway width is three lanes (10.5 metre).

With importance accorded to quick movement of military troops and artillery, the bridge has been designed to allow movement of tanks, official sources said.

The bridge is an engineering marvel and is capable of withstanding the weight of a 60 tonne battle tank, a release by Dalmia Cement, which supplied the construction material, said in Guwahati.

The company supplied 17,000 tonnes of cement for the bridge which connects Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, said a release from the cement company.

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) was the largest and main supplier of steel for constructing the bridge. It supplied around 90 per cent or around 30,000 tonnes of steel, including TMT bars for it, an official release said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the demonetization drive was a "tough decision" to take in view of the opposition parties' constant efforts to turn people against it.

In the end, however, the people stood by the decision of his government, he told a rally here on the occasion of the BJP-led NDA government's completion of three years in office.

"Demonetization was a tough decision. Political leaders tried to create anger and provoke people," Modi said.

He said, "Demonetization has brought 90 lakh people into the tax net. People stood by me shoulder to shoulder in this big decision".

Modi thanked the 1.25 crore people of the country for standing by him on every decision his government took.

On black money, the prime minister said, "We decided to take strong steps against black money. I know that for this I will face problems, but I won't hesitate as I have promised this to the people".

Indirectly criticising the previous governments at the Centre, Modi said that an Act was passed against "benami properties" in 1988, but it was never notified.

"What kind of governance was this? For the first time in India, honesty is getting a chance. An honest person is thinking of living peacefully for the first time," he observed.

The prime minister said that because of his honest decisions, he had faced huge problems, but he would always stand by it as promised to the people.

"Once black money was everywhere, now it became 'Jan Dhan' everywhere. From now on, it should be 'Digi Dhan' everywhere," he said referring to his government's drive for a cashless economy.

Highlighting some of his government's achievements, Modi referred to the setting up of OBC Commission, Swachch Bharat campaign, surrender of LPG subsidy by people, spread of Internet to villages, transforming post offices into banks, irrigation system and providing LED bulbs to common people.

He took a dig at previous governments for slow speed of work, saying there was a big mismatch between people's expectations and implementation of schemes or projects.

He took credit for trying out new things, saying, "Everyday there is a new initiative. There is a change in the work culture. The country is feeling the change. In the last three years, there was not a single day when we did not take a step".

Talking of a new India he wants to see, Modi said, "We have to build a new, developed India. There should be respect for all work and workers. Women will travel equally. There will be no discrimination to anyone and all will be equal".

During his day-long tour of Assam, Modi said projects worth Rs 3,500 crore had been either conceived or commissioned in the state in a single day.