Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 21 laid the foundation stone for a ₹10,601 crore brownfield ammonia-urea plant in Assam’s Dibrugarh district, marking a significant step towards strengthening domestic fertiliser production and reducing import dependence.
The project, to be executed by Assam Valley Fertiliser and Chemical Company Ltd (AVFCCL), will have an annual urea production capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes, with commissioning targeted for 2030.
Joint Venture Structure
The plant will be constructed at Namrup within the existing premises of Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Ltd, following Union Cabinet approval in March.
AVFCCL, incorporated in July, is structured as a joint venture involving the Assam government, Oil India, National Fertilisers Limited, Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd, and BVFCL. The facility is expected to play a crucial role in meeting fertiliser demand across the Northeast and eastern India.
Tribute to Assam Agitation Martyrs
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister paid tribute to martyrs of the Assam Agitation at the newly inaugurated Swahid Smarak Kshetra in Guwahati’s Boragaon.
Accompanied by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Modi toured the martyrs’ gallery and garlanded the statue of Khargeswar Talukdar, recognized as the movement’s first martyr, who died on December 10, 1979.
Memorial Honours 860 Lives
The ₹170 crore memorial commemorates 860 people who lost their lives during the six-year anti-foreigners’ movement that concluded in 1985. A perpetual flame burns at the site, symbolizing sacrifice and resilience.
The memorial features water bodies, an auditorium, prayer hall, cycle track, and a sound-and-light show tracing the Assam Agitation’s key phases.