In a landmark move for healthcare in Northeast India, the Assam government has announced it will become the first state in the country to acquire a state-of-the-art proton therapy machine for advanced cancer treatment. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed this mega plan as part of a series of new year announcements covering various sectors.
A Quantum Leap in Cancer Care
Chief Minister Sarma stated that the government is procuring the cutting-edge radiological equipment at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore. A tender for the machine has already been floated. This precision-based proton therapy treatment is currently available in India only at private facilities like Tata and Apollo in Chennai, and its introduction marks the first time such technology will be available within any public health system in the nation.
"By spending Rs 500 crore, we decided to bring a proton therapy machine to the cancer grid in Assam," Sarma explained. He emphasized that this initiative is a significant stride towards positioning Assam as a hub for medical tourism, opening a new horizon for the state's healthcare sector.
Infrastructure Surge: Bridges, Corridors, and a Tunnel
Beyond healthcare, the Chief Minister outlined a robust infrastructure agenda. He announced that a new bridge connecting Guwahati with North Guwahati will be inaugurated in February. Furthermore, two major bridges over the Brahmaputra—the Sualkuchi-Palasbari bridge and the Dhubri-Phulbari bridge—are progressing well and are slated for completion in 2027.
In a major development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for a 32-km elevated corridor through Kaziranga on January 17 or 18. This project, proposed at a cost of Rs 6,957 crore, aims to protect wildlife while improving connectivity.
An even more ambitious project is the twin-tube underwater tunnel under the Brahmaputra, connecting Gohpur and Numaligarh. Originally planned as a 4-lane motorway with a budget of Rs 12,000 crore, the project has been redesigned on the PM's direction to include rail tracks, escalating its estimated cost to nearly Rs 20,000 crore.
Focus on Connectivity and Education
The infrastructure push extends internationally, with PM Modi also set to lay the foundation for a proposed railway line between Kokrajhar in Assam and Gelephu in Bhutan in February.
Simultaneously, the state cabinet, in its first meeting of 2026, approved Rs 455 crore for the construction of 100 new schools across Assam. It also granted a revised administrative approval of Rs 1,201.16 crore for the construction of a medical college centred around MMCH and the Kalapahar campus.
CM Sarma concluded by reflecting on Assam's transformation over the past five years, from an agitation-affected state to the country's fastest-growing state—a claim he stated is backed by RBI data. This comprehensive development plan underscores the state's multi-sectoral ambition for growth and improved public services.
