Assam invests ₹760 crore in statewide school infrastructure upgrade

Assam took a major step toward upgrading its school infrastructure as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated 67 newly constructed school buildings and laid the foundation stones for 61 additional projects, involving a total investment of ₹760 crore across the state.

At the main event held in Sonapur, Sarma described the occasion as “historic and transformative” for Assam’s education system.

He said earlier school construction often depended on public donations or limited funds from MLA and MP Local Area Development schemes, leading to cramped and poorly planned classrooms.

“Such unplanned constructions diminished the aesthetic appeal of school campuses, and even after more than seven decades of India's independence, there was a pressing need to bring about a comprehensive transformation in educational institutions of the state,” Sarma said.

The chief minister said his government, after taking office in 2021, adopted a structured and modern approach to rebuilding schools with better design and facilities.

According to him, new buildings are being constructed for 1,318 schools across Assam, while 58 older school structures are being renovated instead of being demolished.

Of the 67 schools inaugurated, construction costs amounted to about ₹483 crore, with 18 schools built under the PM-DevINE scheme.

The new buildings feature up to 20 classrooms along with laboratories, libraries, smart classrooms, and designated rooms for principals and teachers.

Sarma said 21 schools were constructed under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme, while 28 projects were funded through the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund.

The foundation stones laid for 61 upcoming school buildings involve an estimated cost of ₹277.55 crore, with each project costing around ₹4.55 crore under the same fund.

“This is the new Assam. When we resolve to do something, we ensure its completion. We had dreamt of rebuilding school infrastructure across the state, and today we have turned that dream into reality,” the CM said.

He also announced that 100 newly built schools located in tea garden areas will be inaugurated in the coming days.

Sarma added that alongside infrastructure expansion, the state has recruited a large number of teachers, noting that 70% of government school teachers are now under the age of 45.