Assam Government Speeds Up Deportation Policy and Marks Major Infrastructure Milestones
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday that the state government will now deport anyone declared a foreigner by the Foreigners’ Tribunal within one week of the ruling. Addressing a press conference, Sarma stated that the government has already identified and repatriated 2,000 illegal foreigners and emphasized that efforts to expedite deportations have intensified. “From now on, anyone declared a foreigner by the tribunal will be sent back within a week,” he said, highlighting the administration’s zero-tolerance approach toward illegal immigration. The Chief Minister further explained that the Foreigners’ Tribunal in Assam is responsible for adjudicating cases involving immigrants and foreign nationals, and the state government has instructed district administrations to issue immediate deportation orders wherever necessary, without seeking any compromise.
In the same address, Sarma also praised Assam’s law and order performance, claiming significant improvements over the past few years. According to him, the number of criminal cases registered has decreased drastically, while conviction rates have risen sharply. He cited data from the Home Ministry, noting that Assam ranks first among all states in implementing new criminal laws. For instance, cases registered dropped from 133,000 in 2021 to 43,748 in 2025, and the filing of chargesheets in courts increased by 81 percent. Conviction rates improved from just six percent in 2021 to over 26 percent today, reflecting what the Chief Minister described as a strengthened legal framework.
Beyond law enforcement, Sarma highlighted key infrastructure developments in the state. He announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation for the 32-kilometer-long Kaziranga Elevated Corridor in January, with an estimated cost of ₹6,957 crore, as well as the proposed Gelefu railway line project in February. The Chief Minister also pointed to significant progress over the past five years in Assam’s infrastructure sector, including the construction of four new bridges across the Brahmaputra River. One of these bridges, connecting Guwahati with North Guwahati, is expected to be inaugurated in February, further enhancing regional connectivity and development.
By combining stringent action on illegal immigration with ambitious infrastructure projects, the Assam government aims to strengthen both the state’s security framework and its economic growth prospects, signaling a robust approach to governance under Sarma’s leadership.