Guwahati: Union Power Minister RK Singh on Sunday said several multi-modal centres, including an electronic manufacturing centre in Guwahati, will be set up in the State under the PM Gati Shakti scheme.

Addressing a press meet at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Singh said, "Agriculture clusters along with mega food parks in Assam have been included in this year's Budget. An electronic manufacturing center, four centres for mega food parks, and five centers for the development of the fishery sector will come up in the State."

"The Government is committed to sustainable development in Assam and the Northeast by making huge provisions in road infrastructure and ropeway in inaccessible areas and other sectors to the tune of Rs. 2,800 Cr, he said.

The minister said that a unit of the 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project will start generating power by August this year. Of the total sanctioned Rs 188 crore, Rs 56 crore will be spent for downstream river protection in Assam this year. Rs 144 crore has already been spent in this connection, he added.

Highlighting the Budget, Singh said 24 road projects. have been taken up to the tune of over Rs 20,000 crore for Assam.

Earlier, Singh interacted with businessmen, economists, and senior citizens during an interactive programme organized by the BJP, Assam Pradesh. He said that despite the coronavirus pandemic, the economy of the country is growing at a fast rate of 9.2 percent. Coming down heavily on the Congress for terming the Budget 'capitalist', the minister questioned how can it be labeled so when it has huge provisions for infrastructure development, dwelling units for the poor, health insurance for the poor, electrification, and piped water for the poor rural households, cooking gas connections for poor, etc.

"Whopping investments in infrastructure, creation of jobs, direct and indirect, through the Make in India programme, building new roads, factories, railway lines, the introduction of 400 Vande Bharat trains, etc., are aimed at making India one of the fastest-growing economies of the world. In the defense sector, 68 percent of the capital expenditure will be procured from the local market, making an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat," he stated.

The minister also chaired a meeting with officials of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) Limited. He assured support to NEEPCO in its vision to become a 4,000 MW-plus company. He said NEEPCO has been allocated 17 large hydro projects in Arunachal Prades of more than 6,000 MW.