Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the state will soon adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) in governance to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency across government departments. Speaking in Guwahati, the Chief Minister also flagged alleged corruption and misappropriation in road construction works under the state government.
Addressing officials, Sarma said the proposed system, termed “AI Governance,” would monitor departmental functioning and project execution, helping prevent inflated billing and delays. He specifically pointed to irregularities in road construction estimates prepared by the Public Works Department (PWD).
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced in Guwahati that the state will implement AI-based governance to improve transparency and curb corruption. Flagging irregularities in road construction, he alleged inflated cost estimates by some PWD engineers and said AI systems would help prevent excess billing and misappropriation.
AI to Monitor Government Departments
The Chief Minister said AI technologies would be deployed across departments to track projects, accounts, and timelines. “When AI is involved in accounting, no one will be able to show excess bills and estimates,” Sarma said, adding that the move would bring down misappropriation and improve project execution.
According to him, AI governance will also help streamline workflows and speed up government work, ensuring better outcomes for citizens.
Corruption Allegations in Road Construction
Highlighting the issue, Sarma said he was aware of ongoing corruption in road construction projects. “Some engineers of the PWD are showing ₹6–7 crore estimates for a road that should cost around ₹2 crore,” he said, calling it a serious concern for public finance and infrastructure quality.
Road infrastructure is a key civic issue in Guwahati, where residents frequently raise concerns over road conditions, repeated repairs, and project delays. The Chief Minister said the proposed AI-based oversight would directly address such issues.
Guwahati as the Launchpad for Reforms
Major governance reforms and policy directions in Assam are typically announced from Guwahati, the state’s administrative hub. Officials said the city would likely be among the first to see pilot implementation of AI-based monitoring, given the concentration of departments and large-scale infrastructure projects.
Sarma directed heads of departments to begin preparing detailed plans for integrating AI tools into their respective systems.
Statewide Rollout Planned
The Chief Minister clarified that AI governance would not be limited to the PWD. “AI will be implemented across all government departments to ensure transparency and accountability,” he said, indicating a comprehensive, statewide rollout.
Why This Matters for Guwahati
Guwahati, as Assam’s largest urban centre, witnesses extensive public works activity, particularly road construction and maintenance. AI-based monitoring could impact how projects are planned, billed, and executed in the city, potentially improving quality and reducing delays.
What Happens Next
Departments have been asked to prepare implementation roadmaps for AI integration. Further details on timelines, pilot projects, and technical frameworks are expected to be announced after departmental planning is completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is ‘AI Governance’ as announced by the Assam CM?
AI Governance refers to the use of artificial intelligence tools to monitor government departments, projects, and accounts to improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability.
Q2. Which department did the CM flag for alleged irregularities?
The Chief Minister flagged alleged corruption and inflated cost estimates in road construction under the Public Works Department (PWD).
