Assam turns up the volume—ready to rival Meghalaya on the concert stage.
Guwahati, May 21: The Assam Cabinet on Wednesday approved a new “Policy for Concert Tourism,” aiming to position the state as a premier destination for large-scale music events and entertainment tourism. The move is part of a broader push to establish a “concert economy” in Assam and generate healthy competition with neighboring Meghalaya, which has seen success with music festivals in recent years.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state will host a major international concert in Guwahati this December, with American artist Post Malone scheduled to perform on December 8. The cities of Guwahati, Jorhat, and Dibrugarh will be promoted as prime locations for hosting concerts and festivals under the new policy.
“Gujarat earns ₹600 crore from concerts. Assam has been left out of this economy for too long. We’re now taking steps to change that,” Sarma said at a press briefing after the Cabinet meeting in Dergaon.
As part of the policy, modern venues equipped with world-class lighting and sound systems will be developed. Assam Tourism will support event organizers with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to encourage investment in the sector.
Paid PSO Policy Introduced
The Cabinet also approved a new policy allowing individuals with verified threat perception to hire Paid Personal Security Officers (PSOs). Applicants must pay a monthly fee of ₹75,000 to the government, in addition to covering the PSO’s salary.
“It’s not for everyone,” Sarma clarified. “Only those with genuine threat assessments will be considered.”
Tea Workers to Get Full Wages
In a major relief for tea garden workers, the Cabinet approved the implementation of fully notified wages in Assam Tea Corporation Limited (ATCL) gardens. From October 1, workers will receive ₹250 per day, up from the current ₹220.
The Cabinet cleared the sixth addition to Kaziranga National Park, increasing its area by 47,306.33 hectares. Ten villages will be excluded from the expansion.
Key infrastructure approvals include:
Phase 2 development of Lachit Barphukan Police Academy at a cost of ₹229.41 crore
Construction of a New Assembly Complex and MLA Hostel in Dibrugarh for ₹284.03 crore
Upgrade of Khanikar Multidisciplinary Sports Complex in Dibrugarh, with stadium seating expanded from 5,000 to 35,000, at a cost of ₹209.13 crore
The Cabinet also approved the final instalment of ₹205.725 crore towards the state’s equity in Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), completing Assam’s 26 per cent stake in the company’s expansion plan worth ₹823 crore.
Additionally, the Assam Solar Power Generation Promotion Policy 2025 was cleared, targeting the creation of 3,500 MW of solar capacity by 2030 and an estimated 15,000 new jobs. The policy includes incentives for private and public investment, infrastructure development, tax waivers, and single-window clearance for projects.
