Cabinet nod to 24x7 operation of shops in Guwahati, Dibrugarh & Silchar

Dibrugarh: In a landmark decision aimed at boosting the state's economy, the Assam cabinet, chaired by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma in Dibrugarh on Thursday, has approved round-the-clock operation for shops and business establishments in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Silchar.
The landmark decision eliminates the traditional weekly closure of businesses that has been the norm until now. The new policy will be implemented within the municipal corporation areas of these three major cities, while businesses in other towns across Assam will be permitted to operate until 2 am. In rural areas, establishments can remain open until 11 pm.
"This step will create a flourishing business environment in Assam and provide more job opportunities for our youth. However, we are committed to ensuring that labour laws are strictly followed. Shop owners must ensure that no employee works more than 48 hours a week or more than 9 hours at a stretch. For 24-hour operations, businesses must implement three shifts with different staff," the CM said, addressing the media at the end of the cabinet meeting held at the CM's secretariat in Dibrugarh.
The CM also clarified that while other establishments may function 24x7, wine shops in Guwahati will be allowed to operate till 2 am while in Dibrugarh and Silchar they will be permitted to operate till midnight.
In another significant announcement, the CM revealed that members of the Moran community residing in Arunachal Pradesh, who trace their roots to Assam, will be provided Permanent Residential Certificates (PRCs) of Assam. This move comes after years of deprivation, as the Arunachal govt had not issued PRCs to these individuals, barring them from accessing various benefits.
"I have been in consultation with the Arunachal CM on this issue. By granting PRCs, we aim to ensure that the Moran community can avail job opportunities, as well as secure seats in medical and engineering colleges in Assam," Sarma stated.
The CM also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the establishment of a new brownfield ammonia-urea plant at Namrup in Dibrugarh district. The plant, with an estimated cost of Rs 10,601.40 crore, will have an annual production capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes of urea.
"This plant will not only boost the agricultural sector but also create numerous job opportunities for the people of Assam. We thank the Prime Minister for his unwavering support to the state's development," Sarma said.