Aizawl, March 28: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth Rs 2,414 crore in Mizoram on April 1.
The six key projects that will be inaugurated include the construction of the Assam Rifles Battalion Headquarters Complex at Zokhawsang, which is worth Rs 163 crore, and the construction of the Integrated Command and Control Centre under Smart City Ltd (ASCL), which is worth Rs 119.2 crore.
The Assam Rifles Battalion Headquarters Complex at Zokhawsang is located about 15 km east of Aizawl and is among the six key projects. The Assam Rifles has been guarding Mizoram’s 510 km border with Myanmar and has two bases in Aizawl, one at Zodin and the other at Khatla.
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The battalion headquarters at Zodin is being shifted to Zokhawsang. Relocating the Assam Rifles from the heart of Aizawl city has been one of the major commitments of the Mizo National Front since the early 1990s. The demand for shifting the Assam Rifles was first raised by Laldenga in 1988 after the central paramilitary force killed seven civilians in a clash.
In addition to the construction of the Assam Rifles Battalion Headquarters Complex, the Home Minister will lay the foundation stone for the construction of Zorinpui – Longmasu NH-502A, which is estimated to cost Rs 781.85 crore.
The construction of Aizawl Bypass (Package-1), NH-6 worth Rs 329.70 crore, the construction of Aizawl Bypass (Package-3), NH-6 worth Rs 720.72 crore, and the construction of Laldenga Centre worth Rs 193 crore are also among the projects to be inaugurated.
Many senior officials of the Central and the state government will attend the programme. The district administration has completed its preparations in view of the visit of the Union Home Minister. Last week, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga met the Union Home Minister at his office and expressed his gratitude for his promise to inaugurate the Assam Rifles Battalion Complex at Zokhawsang and lay the foundation stone for the Laldenga Cultural Centre.
Laldenga, the founder of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), led a cessationist movement for 20 years, from 1966 to 1986, and served as Mizoram’s first chief minister after the region gained sovereignty in 1987.
