Mahasadak will be completed by March 2022 announces Nitin Gadkari; adds, "Will inaugurate it myself"

Many questioned the unveiling of Vajpayee’s statue without completing the highway work and the presence of the Union Transport Minister himself. However, answering these questions, Nitin Gadkari stood in Silchar and announced that the work on the unfinished section of the highway will be completed before March 2022. He will come and inaugurate it himself as it is a dream project of his favourite Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways also announced the construction of two more bridges over the Barak River and a logistics park in the Barak Valley at the behest of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

A 13-foot-tall bronze statue of the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been erected at Zero Point on the highway to mark his birthday. The statue was officially unveiled on Friday and was attended by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Rameshwar Teli, Minister of State in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha, MP Rajdeep Roy, Assam’s Cabinet Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar and others. In addition to Vajpayee’s birthday, twenty new projects were launched in the transport department and seven completed ones were dedicated to the people.

The event was hosted by Sarbananda Sonowal and Nitin Gadkari was the guest of honour. He was the first to speak as the organizer and like a younger brother, sat down with the doctor asking more for the Barak Valley. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, “You have built six new bridges over Brahmaputra River. I want to have at least two new bridges over river Barak. The Union Transport Minister has already announced plans to set up a multi-model Logistics park in the Brahmaputra Valley. I would like to announce a similar project in the Barak Valley. One of the key motto of  Narendra Modi’s work is ‘Transformation through Transportation’. The Prime Minister plans to build India’s trade relations with Greater Asia in a way that makes the North-East transport system world class. Also one of the strengths of the North East is the ability to transport water. So, if the Logistics Park rises, the transport will reach the international standard. We want to see Assam as one of the top five most developed states in India and this dream is starting to succeed”.

Then Nitin Gadkari, the Chief Guest on the stage, first mentioned his memories with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee had the ability to see into the distant future. He further added, “He kept track of everyone’s good work and announced various projects citing examples of work. The Prime Minister is an example of village road scheme. Politics was a means of development of the country for him, of course he did not like person-centered Politics and rather worked in the interest of the country. The Barak Valley is an area very dear to him and he has been here many a times in his life. He also mentioned the name of Silchar when the highway was being planned. Unfortunately, before his death we could not fulfil his dream but now it will work. I am standing here promising that the work will be completed before March 2020 and I will come and inaugurate it myself.”

Commenting on Sarbananda Sonowal’s various petitions, he said, “I have a sense of entitlement and demand for him because he joined BJP holding my hands and with him I have campaigned in different areas. On his behalf, I had to make promises in many places that were difficult to fulfil later, but we did not give up. This time he asked me for two bridges over Barak and a logistics and I must keep his word and announce that the foundation stone of both the projects will be laid next year. But the people of Barak Valley have to make a promise, even if it is not over after next year’s elections, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will have this responsibility and you have to give him a chance again by voting for him”.

On this day, everyone stood up and announced various new road projects. Among them, two notable projects in Barak Valley are four-lane road from Silchar to Bhaireng and Silchar to Jetighat. Dr. Gadkari also said that the potential of Assam is so high that it is possible to make this state the “Switzerland of India.” People from various states and abroad will come to this state for tourism in the future. He also said, “For those who have elected a worthy person like Sarbananda Sonowal as the Chief Minister, I say that there are very few people in Politics like him, vote for him in the future as well.”

Other guests on the occasion included District President Ranjit Das, who demanded a highway for the people of Barak Valley. MP Rajdeep Roy added, “It has been decided on the second death anniversary of former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee that a statue of him will be erected at Zero Point on the highway. The whole thing is done with the money donated by his followers. A bank account was created and his believers sent Rs.33 lakhs to it. Someone gave 10 rupees, some gave 10000 rupees, but everyone’s respect was equal. The idol and the ceremony has been made with this money. Chandrasekhar Das made the statue in Calcutta. He made the statue in just four months and showed his skills.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Nitin Gadkari paid tribute to former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha. On the one hand, as Nitin Gadkari called Kabindra Purkayastha his elder brother, on the other hand, Sarbananda called him his father. The BJP’s victory journey in Assam started with holding his hand, the other chief guests added on the occasion.