Assam CM Seeks Direct Flights to East Asian Countries

Mumbai, Apr 27 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today sought direct flights to Bangkok and Singapore from Guwahati to increase the state's connectivity with the East Asian countries.

The chief minister was speaking at `India Economic Summit 2018' at the Bombay Stock Exchange here.

Also present on the stage was Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha.

"I want to request from this stage, direct flights to Asian countries like (capital of Thailand) Bangkok and Singapore from Guwahati. Because development is not possible without communication and connectivity. The Central government already is helping us in sectors like railways, roads and bridges. (Union Transport Minister) Nitin Gadkari has already sanctioned Rs 1 lakh crore for the infrastructure of North Eastern states, especially for communication infrastructure," Sonowal said.

"From the time Narendra Modi became the prime minister, he has decided that every Central minister will visit the North East every 15 days. Not just visit, solve issues and complete the incomplete tasks of his department....No PM in the last 70 years has taken such strong steps for the North East," Sonowal said.

The region was earlier plagued by law and order problems and corruption, and investors faced many hurdles, he said.

"No work got done without money. When we took charge, we announced that Assam will be made a corruption-free, terrorism-free, pollution-free state. In the last few months a relentless approach has been taken against corruption, and 150 officials are in jail and many have been dismissed," he said.

More than 22 countries and top business houses of India took part in the Global Investor Summit held in Assam recently, the chief minister said.

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