Guwahati, April 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam on September 8 to inaugurate India’s first bio-refinery, a landmark project built by Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL). The refinery, which will produce ethanol from bamboo, was initiated by PM Modi himself in 2019 and has been completed at a cost of ₹4,200 crore. This milestone project is expected to significantly boost green energy and economic growth in the region.
During the visit, PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for the ₹7,500 crore Guwahati Ring Road, which includes the construction of a bridge across the Brahmaputra connecting Narengi to Kuruwa.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the state government’s strong backing of the project, including bearing 50% of the land acquisition cost and refunding GST and forest royalties to the contractor. Assam will contribute over ₹1,000 crore, while the Centre will provide ₹3,000 crore as a viability gap fund.
The Prime Minister’s visit will also coincide with the 100th birth anniversary celebrations of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika, where he will be the chief guest. CM Sarma revealed that a national-level celebration committee is being formed and efforts are underway to release a commemorative coin in Hazarika’s honour, with a formal request sent to the Union Finance Ministry.
In another major development, CM Sarma announced the upcoming fourth unit of the Namrup fertilizer plant, set to be established with a massive investment of ₹10,600 crore. The new unit will be called Assam Fertilizer and Chemical Co. Ltd., and the state government will hold a majority 40% stake. Other stakeholders include BVFCL (11%), HURL (13%), National Fertilizers Ltd (18%), and Oil India Ltd (18%). Once operational, the plant is expected to produce 12.5 lakh tonnes of urea annually, which could rise to 15.7 lakh tonnes if merged with the existing BVFCL, making it the largest fertilizer manufacturing facility in the country. Tenders are expected to be floated by September, and construction may begin by December.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the state’s rapid development under the Advantage Assam 2.0 initiative. The Adani Group plans to invest ₹50,000 crore, including ₹10,000 crore in the Guwahati Airport and the Aerocity project, both scheduled for inauguration in October. Provided the state facilitates land and infrastructure support, an additional ₹40,000 crore investment by Adani is anticipated.
By December 2025, Assam is set to witness ₹1 lakh crore worth of new investments, with two mega projects nearing final approval- ₹25,000 crore Guwahati-Silchar Greenfield Highway via Barapani and ₹12,000 crore Numaligarh–Gohpur underwater Brahmaputra tunnel.
CM Sarma emphasized that these developments signal a historic economic transformation for Assam, positioning the state as a hub of innovation, infrastructure, and industrial growth in the Northeast.
