Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, inaugurated the North Eastern Science & Technology (NEST) Cluster at IIT Guwahati on Monday and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth Rs 635 crore across Assam.

The projects, aimed at boosting infrastructure, connectivity and industrial growth in the state, include construction of 65 new secondary school buildings, road upgradation, bridge development and new industrial estates in Kokrajhar and Baksa.

The newly launched NEST Cluster, built at a cost of Rs 22.98 crore, is designed to serve as a key innovation hub for the Northeast, with focus areas including grassroots innovation, semiconductors and AI, bamboo technology, and biodegradable plastics.

During his visit, Scindia interacted with IIT Guwahati students and researchers working on 6G technology, low-cost MRI systems, biodegradable materials and bamboo-based innovations. He also felicitated rural women trained under the NEST mission in sustainable toy manufacturing.

Highlighting rapid development in the region under the Modi government, Scindia said over Rs 6.2 lakh crore has been invested in the Northeast, transforming it from “landlocked to land-linked” and opening new economic frontiers through the Act East Policy.

He remarked that Assam is emerging as the “innovation and connectivity hub” of the Northeast, and expressed confidence that the state will play a central role in India’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.