Guwahati, September 10 – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the state government will set up land banks and develop industrial estates at strategic sites to tackle the shortage of suitable land, a key obstacle to new investment. The announcement followed the inauguration of PepsiCo India’s food manufacturing plant in Banekuchi, Nalbari, where Sarma noted that many companies interested in setting up units in Assam had been deterred by the lack of readily available industrial land.
Sarma explained that the proposed land banks would concentrate on areas with access to major transport infrastructure, such as railway stations and highways. These parcels would then be converted into industrial estates equipped with road connectivity and essential utilities, thereby simplifying the process for investors to establish manufacturing facilities.
The chief minister highlighted that Assam is attracting growing interest from investors across sectors, yet the practical challenge of finding industrial land remains urgent. He cited investments of approximately Rs 3 lakh crore in sectors including hydrocarbons, petrochemicals, energy, mining and electronics, and projected that these projects could create employment for about one lakh people within the state.
Sarma also referenced the Shraddhanjali scheme, noting that in recent months the state had received the bodies of up to 50 workers who died while employed in other states. He stressed that expanding the industrial base would provide local jobs, reduce the need for residents to seek employment elsewhere, and support Assam’s emergence as an industrial hub in the Northeast.
