Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday held separate meetings with senior leaders from Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Bharti Enterprises in New Delhi to review ongoing projects and discuss future investments aimed at accelerating infrastructure development, enhancing digital connectivity, and generating private sector employment opportunities across the state. The discussions underscore the Assam government’s strategic engagement with major corporate entities to foster economic growth and improve public services.
These high-level deliberations are crucial as Assam intensifies its efforts to attract private investment and create a robust environment for job creation, aligning with the state’s ambitious goal of transforming into a ₹10 lakh crore economy by 2028. The Chief Minister’s proactive outreach to industry leaders signifies a concerted push to leverage corporate expertise and capital for the state’s comprehensive development agenda.
What was announced
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met with S.N. Subrahmanyan, Chairman and Managing Director of Larsen & Toubro, at his official residence. During their meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed the progress of various infrastructure and engineering projects currently being executed by L&T in Assam. He emphasized the importance of a clear roadmap for their timely completion, according to a post on X by Sarma.
Later the same day, Chief Minister Sarma held discussions with Rajan Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman of Bharti Enterprises. The focus of this meeting was on the group’s expansion plans within Assam, with a particular emphasis on strengthening the telecommunications sector. Chief Minister Sarma highlighted the need to cover “dark areas” to ensure more citizens benefit from reliable phone and internet connectivity, he said. These meetings are part of the Assam government’s ongoing strategy to collaborate with leading corporate groups to boost infrastructure and digital access, especially in regions with existing network gaps.
Why it matters
The Chief Minister’s engagements with L&T and Bharti Enterprises are significant for Assam’s economic trajectory and employment landscape. Accelerated infrastructure development by L&T, an engineering and construction giant, is expected to create numerous direct and indirect job opportunities in sectors such as construction, logistics, and allied services. Projects like the Dhubri-Phulbari bridge over the Brahmaputra and a major water management initiative in Guwahati exemplify L&T’s substantial presence and potential for further investment in the state.
Furthermore, Bharti Enterprises’ commitment to expanding telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas, is vital for improving digital literacy and enabling access to online services, education, and e-commerce for a wider population. Enhanced digital connectivity is a cornerstone for modern economic growth and can unlock new avenues for employment, especially for the youth. These private sector investments complement the state government’s broader “Mission 2 Lakh Govt Jobs” initiative, launched on May 29, 2026, which aims to create two lakh government employment opportunities over the next five years. The government’s strategy is not only to provide public sector jobs but also to foster an ecosystem where private investment drives job creation and entrepreneurship.
Background
Assam has been actively pursuing a multi-pronged development strategy under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, aiming for inclusive growth and economic expansion. The state government has set an ambitious target of achieving a ₹10 lakh crore economy by 2028, a goal reiterated by Chief Minister Sarma on May 26, 2026. This vision is underpinned by rapid economic growth, rising investments, and large-scale infrastructure development across various sectors.
The state has witnessed significant expansion in infrastructure, industry, education, transport, and healthcare over the past few years, with its economy already surpassing the ₹7 lakh crore mark, the Chief Minister said. Improved connectivity, investor-friendly industrial policies, and enhanced investor confidence are cited as key factors contributing to Assam’s emergence as one of the fastest-growing states in the country. The government is strategically focusing on attracting investments in manufacturing, semiconductor technology, logistics, and tourism to further accelerate economic growth.
In terms of employment, Assam faces the challenge of a significant number of educated youths registered in employment exchanges and an increasing trend of migration to larger cities due to limited local opportunities. Urban youth unemployment reached 27.5 percent by late 2024, according to a report. To address this, alongside the “Mission 2 Lakh Govt Jobs,” the state government has also been promoting self-employment and entrepreneurship through schemes like the Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (SVAYEM) scheme and the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan (CMAAA). These initiatives aim to empower young entrepreneurs and create job creators rather than just job seekers.
L&T has a long-standing presence in the Northeast, involved in critical projects such as the Dhubri-Phulbari bridge, which is set to be India’s longest river bridge, significantly reducing travel distance and improving regional connectivity. The company has also secured contracts for railway electrification and water management projects in the region. Bharti Airtel, on its part, has been aggressively expanding its digital footprint in Assam. The company launched 5G services in Guwahati in November 2022 and has expanded its 5G Plus service across all districts in the North East, connecting over 1.7 million unique 5G customers. This expansion includes deploying additional spectrum to boost 5G/4G network capacities, aiming for better coverage and data speeds in both urban and rural areas.
Key details
The meetings, held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at the Chief Minister’s official residence in New Delhi, involved discussions on specific project timelines and expansion strategies.
With L&T, the focus was on the timely execution of existing infrastructure projects. L&T’s ongoing work in Assam includes the construction of the 19-kilometre Dhubri-Phulbari bridge, expected to be completed by September 2028, and a significant water management project in South-East Guwahati, valued between ₹1,000 crore to ₹2,500 crore, to ensure 24×7 water supply.
For Bharti Enterprises, the discussions centered on enhancing telecommunications infrastructure, particularly extending mobile and internet connectivity to remote and “dark areas” of the state. This aligns with Bharti Airtel’s ongoing efforts to expand its 5G network, which has already reached all districts in the North East, serving over 1.7 million 5G customers. The company has also expanded its Home Wi-Fi service across all 123 districts of Assam and the North East, aiming to cover an additional 1.6 million new households.
Reactions
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma underscored the state’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for private investment. “We discussed the various projects which L&T is undertaking in Assam and the roadmap for its timely completion,” Sarma said in a post on X, referring to his meeting with L&T’s Chairman and Managing Director. Regarding the telecommunications sector, he stated, “We discussed the Group’s expansion plans in Assam with a specific focus on covering the dark areas so that more people can benefit from proper phone and internet connectivity.” These statements highlight the government’s dual focus on physical infrastructure and digital access as pillars of development and job creation.
What’s next
The Assam government is expected to continue its proactive engagement with private sector players to accelerate development projects. Officials familiar with the matter indicate that these meetings will likely lead to more concrete action plans and investment commitments in the coming months. The task force constituted under the Chief Secretary for “Mission 2 Lakh Govt Jobs” is expected to submit its report within three months, detailing a roadmap for identifying and filling vacancies across various government departments and autonomous bodies. This will further integrate private sector job creation efforts with the state’s broader employment strategy, aiming to provide comprehensive opportunities for the youth of Assam. The ongoing expansion of digital infrastructure by companies like Bharti Enterprises is anticipated to continue, with a focus on extending high-speed internet to previously unconnected regions.