GUWAHATI, March 21: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday that fighter aircraft will soon be able to land on the state’s national highways. The state government is preparing to facilitate this development later this year, with an upgrade of the national highway between Dibrugarh and Jorhat to meet international standards. Speaking at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting in Dibrugarh, CM Sarma stated, “Soon, Indian Air Force fighter jets will be able to land on this highway. Assam will witness several significant developments this year.”
In his address, Sarma also made a veiled remark at the Opposition, saying, “Some people criticise us when we discuss developmental initiatives, but the truth is that our government is actively working on projects such as building underwater tunnels and international standard highways. These advancements will be visible within a year.”
In addition to infrastructure developments, CM Sarma outlined measures to boost business activity in Assam. The Cabinet decided to allow shops in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Silchar to remain open 24 hours a day, while businesses in other urban areas can operate until 2 a.m. “Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Silchar are municipal corporations, and the Cabinet has approved continuous business operations in these cities for 24 hours. Previously, the state government mandated a weekly closing day for shops, but this restriction has now been lifted,” Sarma explained.
In rural areas, businesses will now be permitted to operate until 11 p.m. The Chief Minister also highlighted new regulations for workers’ welfare, ensuring that no business establishment can force employees to work beyond nine hours per day. “Employees in small businesses cannot exceed 48 working hours per week, with shifts capped at nine hours per day. For shops operating 24 hours, owners must hire a minimum of three employees to manage three shifts, each lasting no more than eight or nine hours,” he added. These measures aim to generate employment in small-scale businesses.
Expressing optimism about the new policies, CM Sarma emphasized that the business-friendly changes would foster economic growth, particularly during festive seasons like Bihu and Puja.
