Assam Rises as the Innovation Capital of Northeast: Scindia Unveils ₹635 Crore Development Projects

The winds of change are sweeping across Assam — not just through the rippling waters of the Brahmaputra, but through the corridors of science, innovation, and enterprise. In a landmark move signalling the region’s transformation into India’s next big innovation hub, Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, inaugurated the North Eastern Science & Technology (NEST) Cluster at IIT Guwahati on Monday, alongside laying the foundation stones for development projects worth ₹635 crore across the state.

The ambitious initiatives, Scindia said, are not merely infrastructure investments — they are “packages of unity and promises kept in service of aspiration.”

Assam: From Gateway to Growth Engine

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony attended by senior Assam government officials, academic leaders, and entrepreneurs, Scindia described Assam as “the heartbeat of a rising Northeast,” adding that the state is evolving from a gateway to India’s eastern frontier into the epicentre of innovation, connectivity, and progress.

“The mighty Brahmaputra flows as a symbol of continuity, courage, and creativity,” he said, capturing the spirit of the region’s resurgence under India’s Viksit Purvottar (Developed Northeast) vision.

₹635 Crore Boost for Connectivity, Education, and Industry

At the heart of Monday’s announcement were five major development projects — collectively worth ₹635 crore — designed to reshape Assam’s educational, infrastructural, and industrial landscape.

The key initiatives include:

• Infrastructure Development of 65 New Secondary School Buildings – ₹455 crore

• Upgradation of Chayagaon–Ukium Road – ₹102.69 crore

• Construction of RCC Bridge at Silonijan–Dhansiri Par Ghat – ₹20.59 crore

• Development of Industrial Estate at Ramphalbil (Kokrajhar) – ₹14.40 crore

• Development of Industrial Estate at Lakhibazar (Baksa) – ₹18.40 crore

“These are not just numbers on a file,” Scindia remarked. “Every brick laid and every classroom built is a promise kept in the service of aspiration.”

The projects aim to bridge connectivity gaps, create new learning environments, and stimulate local entrepreneurship, ensuring Assam continues to serve as a gateway to Southeast Asia under India’s Act East Policy.

NEST Cluster: The Northeast’s Innovation Nerve Centre

Among the day’s highlights was the inauguration of the North Eastern Science & Technology (NEST) Cluster at IIT Guwahati — a ₹22.98 crore initiative that Scindia called the “nerve centre of the Northeast’s innovation ecosystem.”

The NEST Cluster aims to harness local ingenuity and transform it into global solutions. It focuses on four transformative domains:

1. Grassroots Innovation

2. Semiconductors & Artificial Intelligence

3. Bamboo-Based Technologies

4. Biodegradable Plastics

The Cluster will also complement other DoNER initiatives like NE-SPARKS and Ashtalakshmi Darshan, which promote youth exposure and knowledge exchange. Under these programmes, 3,200 students from across India will visit the Northeast, while 800 Northeastern students will undertake scientific exposure visits to institutions like ISRO.

Innovation in Action: From 6G to Sustainable Toys

During his visit to IIT Guwahati, Scindia toured an exhibition showcasing cutting-edge research by students and faculty. From 6G communication technologies and low-field MRI systems for affordable healthcare, to biodegradable polymers and bamboo tissue culture, the displays reflected a vibrant ecosystem of science and sustainability.

Reviewing the biodegradable polymer research, Scindia was visibly impressed. “If you get this going, it will be the future,” he told the researchers, commending their spirit of curiosity and innovation.

In a heartwarming gesture, the Minister also felicitated 30 rural women from Kamrup District who completed training in biodegradable toy manufacturing using Industry 4.0 technologies. These women, trained under the NEST mission, will now receive continued support to establish their own micro-enterprises — a testament to the government’s focus on inclusive innovation and Nari Shakti (women empowerment).

The logo of the NEST Cluster, unveiled during the event, was also designed by rural women artisans — symbolising the union of tradition, creativity, and technological empowerment.

Assam’s Leap Under the Modi Era

Scindia highlighted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Northeast has transitioned from being “landlocked to land-linked and future-ready.”

He pointed out that the Centre has invested over ₹6.2 lakh crore in the region through the 10% Gross Budgetary Support policy, driving a wave of growth and entrepreneurship.

From engineering marvels like the Bogibeel Bridge, Bhupen Hazarika Setu, and Sela Tunnel, to economic enablers like the Jogighopa Multi-Modal Logistics Park, Assam’s connectivity landscape has been radically redefined.

Scindia also cited the Act East Policy as a game-changer, which has cut travel time between Kolkata and Agartala from 31 hours to just 10 via new rail and road links through Bangladesh — bringing the Northeast closer to global markets.

Adding to this momentum, Prime Minister Modi recently launched projects worth ₹6,500 crore in Darrang and ₹18,530 crore across Assam, signalling the Centre’s deep commitment to holistic development across sectors like health, education, energy, and industry.

A New Dawn for a Viksit Purvottar

As the ceremony concluded, Scindia invoked the blessings of Maa Kamakhya, calling Assam a beacon of inclusive progress. “The Northeast, once seen as the periphery, has now become India’s eastern gateway to prosperity,” he said.

He lauded Assam’s deeply rooted ethos of “Xobhe xokolore loi thoka xomaj” — a society that carries everyone together — noting that every initiative launched today strengthens that spirit of unity and shared growth.

“With education, innovation, and enterprise as its pillars, Assam will continue to lead the Northeast’s march toward Viksit Bharat @2047,” Scindia declared, closing his address amid loud applause.

For years, the Northeast has been seen as a region rich in culture but lagging in opportunity. The unveiling of the NEST Cluster and the infusion of ₹635 crore in strategic projects represent a turning point — one where science, entrepreneurship, and inclusion converge to define a new narrative for Assam.

As innovation takes root in the heart of Guwahati and micro-enterprises bloom in Kamrup’s villages, the message is clear: the Northeast is no longer India’s frontier — it is its future.