THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 18, 2026

 “Kaziranga is more than a National Park — it is the soul of Assam, a priceless jewel of India’s biodiversity, honoured by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday as he performed the Bhoomi Pujan of the ambitious Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project, marking a major step towards balancing infrastructure growth with ecological conservation in the Northeast.

Addressing a large gathering in Kaliabor, the Prime Minister expressed deep gratitude to the people for their warm welcome and recalled his personal connection with Kaziranga. He said memories of his earlier visit came alive, especially the night he spent at the National Park and the early morning elephant safari that allowed him to witness the region’s natural beauty up close. Every visit to Assam, he remarked, fills him with joy, describing the state as the land of brave hearts and exceptionally talented people who shine in every field.

 

The Prime Minister also spoke about Assam’s vibrant cultural legacy, referring to his recent participation in the Bagurumba Dwhou festival in Guwahati, where over 10,000 Bodo artists created a mesmerising spectacle. The rhythm of the kham and the melody of the sifung, he said, touched the eyes and reached the heart, reflecting the soul of Assam’s traditions. He congratulated the artists for their discipline, preparation and coordination, and thanked social media influencers and television channels for taking Assam’s culture to the world.

Linking development with heritage, Modi highlighted that his recent visits to Assam — during Magh Bihu and earlier for inaugurating the expanded terminal of Lokpriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport and laying the foundation stone of the Namrup Ammonia Urea Complex — strengthened the government’s guiding mantra of “Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi.” He underlined the historic importance of Kaliabor as the gateway to Kaziranga and a strategic centre since Ahom times, recalling how Lachit Borphukan planned the resistance against Mughal invaders from this very region. That victory, he said, symbolised Assam’s pride, unity and self-confidence.

The Prime Minister announced that a 90-kilometre corridor from Kaliabor to Numaligarh is being developed at a cost of about ₹7,000 crore, including a 35-kilometre elevated wildlife corridor through Kaziranga National Park. Designed around traditional animal movement routes, the elevated structure will allow vehicles to pass above while ensuring unhindered movement of rhinos, elephants and tigers below. The project will not only protect wildlife during floods but also improve connectivity between Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, opening new economic opportunities alongside enhanced rail and road links.

Modi noted that protecting nature also creates livelihoods, pointing out the steady rise in tourism in Kaziranga and the resulting income opportunities for local youth through homestays, guiding services, transport and handicrafts. He lauded Assam’s success in curbing rhino poaching, recalling that while dozens of one-horned rhinos were killed a decade ago, 2025 witnessed not a single poaching incident due to strengthened security, modern surveillance and initiatives like ‘Van Durga’ that increased women’s participation in forest protection.

Emphasising that economy and ecology can grow together, the Prime Minister said India is setting a global example through increased forest cover, expansion of tiger and elephant reserves, revival of cheetahs and leadership in wetland conservation as Asia’s largest Ramsar network. Assam, he added, is showing how development can progress without compromising heritage and biodiversity.

Highlighting the transformation of the Northeast, Modi said decades of physical and emotional distance have been replaced by connectivity through roads, railways, airways and waterways. He pointed out that Assam’s annual rail budget has increased fivefold to nearly ₹10,000 crore, enabling new lines, electrification and better passenger facilities. From Kaliabor, he flagged off three new train services, including the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Guwahati and Kolkata and two Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting Assam with key stations across eastern and northern India, benefitting lakhs of passengers.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of protecting Assam’s identity and culture, praising the state government for tackling infiltration and clearing illegal encroachments from forests and heritage sites. He warned that demographic imbalance, encroachment and related crimes threaten both Assam’s culture and national security, and called for continued vigilance.

Concluding his address, Modi said Assam’s rapid development is opening new doors for the entire Northeast and giving fresh momentum to the Act East Policy. With the trust of the people and a commitment to balanced growth, he asserted, the region is poised to reach new heights. The event was attended by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Pabitra Margherita, along with other dignitaries.