Sonowal inaugurates Indo-Bhutan Border Centre

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Wednesday inaugurated the Indo-Bhutan Border Centre at Darranga in Assam's Baksa district to strengthen bilateral trade with the neighbouring country.

The inauguration of the trade centre is a spontaneous response of the people of Assam, specially the people residing in the four BTAD districts of Baksa, Udalguri, Chirang and Kokrajhar, to the prevailing peaceful situation in the state, Sonowal said on the occasion.

The Centre has decided to construct 264 km of border roads touching four BTAD districts of the state, he said.

The chief minister expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for unleashing a new era of development in Northeast by enunciating Act East Policy.

He vowed to strengthen bilateral relation of India with ASEAN and BBIN countries.

Sonowal thanked both Bhutan and Bangladesh for opening their consulates at Guwahati which has given renewed thrust to the relations with the neighbouring countries with Assam.

Referring to Indo-Bhutan relations, Sonowal said the recently introduced Druk Air flight connecting Paro-Guwahati-Singapore would take Indias relation with ASEAN countries to new heights.

He also said that the state government with the active support of the Central government would revive the Rupsi Airport in Dhubri and revival work would start from next month.

Assam Industries and Commerce Minister, Chandra Mohan Patowary said on the occasion that the trade centre at Darranga besides strengthening the bilateral trade will help to economically empower the people on both sides of border.