Major projects in BTC nearing completion

GUWAHATI, Feb 6 – Several major projects funded by the Ministry of Home Affairs are presently under way in different parts of the Bodoland Territorial Council. Some of them would serve the long-felt cultural and economic needs of people while a few would help better functioning of the administration.

One of the most prestigious projects undertaken by the BTC, the Bodofa Cultural Complex at Kokrajhar, is gradually moving towards completion. Work on the massive complex that would showcase the best of Bodo arts and craft is going on and more than half of the construction is complete.

The complex would house a state-of-the art auditorium, museum, art gallery, craft village, food court and an open-air theatre. Moreover it would have sculptures in several spots and appropriate illumination to highlight the architecture. Once functioning it would be among the finest cultural institutions of the country.

Senior officials of the BTC while taking a group of media persons to the site said that the target date of completion was March 2008, but that has been postponed due to rains.

The ambitiously designed Assembly and Secretariat building at Kokrajhar is also making rapid progress and almost 90 per cent of construction was described as complete. The three storied Assembly building including the Assembly hall, conference halls and rooms for all the executive members are in their final stages of completion.

The Assembly building is linked to the Secretariat building by a skyway to provide easy access. Work at the five storied secretariat building is also making rapid progress and it should get ready by March this year.

Nearing completion is the district centre at Kajalgaon in Chirang district. Built with a sanctioned amount of Rs 5 crore, the two storied building will accommodate all district level officers and a staff of various districts under Bodoland Territorial Council.

One of the amenities expected to give boost to the region’s health care delivery system, the RNB Civil Hospital is also undergoing extension. According to official sources, the 60 bed new facility would extend the existing capacity to 200 beds. It is expected to be complete by December 2008.