TEZPUR, March 3 - Minister for Transport, Industries & Commerce, etc., Chandra Mohan Patowary laid the foundation stone of an inter-state bus terminus at Tezpur here on Saturday. The ISBT in Tezpur, which will be a significant infrastructure initiative for the district of Sonitpur, will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 28.6 crore in an area of 15 bighas which will include a bus terminal and a commercial block. The proposed market complex within the ISBT will consist of 68 individual shops and two multiplexes along with restaurants etc. The total parking capacity for buses will be 40-50 with an estimated passenger capacity of 10,000-15,000.
In his speech, Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that the project is a part of the Government of Assam�s commitment to improve public transport in the State and provide effective and efficient services to citizens. The project was announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget Speech this year and after observing necessary official formalities, the foundation stone has been laid and work on the project will start very soon, the Minister informed.
Patowary said the Government has taken several steps to improve connectivity in the State and is paying equal importance to all means of transport, including rail, inland waterways and air transport services. In his speech, he highlighted how improved transport facilities, under the current Government�s regime has managed to attract big investors to the State, which is considered the gateway to South East Asia, and is slowly changing the face of Assam. Minister for Labour and Employment (Ind) Pallab Lochan Das in his speech said the Government led by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has worked towards improving connectivity to even the remotest areas of the State, and it has been continuously striving to extend welfare benefits to all sections of the people. Chairman, Assam State Transport Corporation, Ashok Bhattarai said the proposed market complex within the ISBT, which will consist of individual shops, is expected to be a game changer for area development and regeneration of Tezpur and also provide a massive boost for employment generation. He also spoke about the key initiatives undertaken by the State Transport department.
The construction of ISBT is expected to have a significant impact on tourism, especially with the adjacent state of Arunachal Pradesh. Additionally, this will also considerably improve the connectivity of Tezpur with several destinations in upper and lower Assam and travel to Arunachal Pradesh. Deputy Commissioner Narsing Pawar, IAS, MLA, Tezpur, Brindaban Goswami, Chairperson, Assam State Textbook Production and Publication Corporation Ltd, Rajen Borthakur, Vice Chairperson ASTC, Haricharan Boro, vice-chairperson AMTRON, Ritubaran Sarma, MD, ASTC, Anand Prakash Tiwari, Chairperson, Sonitpur Zilla Parishad, Dolly Surin, Chairperson, Tezpur Municipal Board, Puspa Deka were present in today�s meeting.
On the sidelines of the programme, Patowary said that the remaining work of the mega Patanjali food Park at Balipara-Ghoramari area near here will be completed very soon which will absorb the local unemployed youths. Moreover, while asked about the re-union with AGP leading into the poll pact for the upcoming parliamentary poll, he mentioned that till date the saffron party has not taken any decision. �Both the parties will take individual decisions,� he mentioned.
