JSW Group and the Government of Assam on February 22 formally began construction of a state-of-the-art heritage museum in Guwahati, marking a major cultural initiative for the state. The foundation stone was laid by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal at the project site in Khanapara. The event was attended by Savitri Jindal, Sangita Jindal, Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Borah and museum curator Richard Blurton, former Head of South and Southeast Asia at the British Museum. The museum is being developed at the Sericulture Farm, Khanapara, on a 45,000-square-foot plot allotted by the state government. The entire construction cost will be funded by JSW Group.
Planned as a world-class cultural destination, the museum will preserve and promote Assam’s art, culture and heritage. It will feature modern conservation systems, advanced climate control and high-level security to protect rare artefacts. The museum will also host national and international exhibitions.
A key highlight will be the inaugural display of the 16th-century Vrindavani Vastra, woven under the guidance of Srimanta Sankardev and depicting scenes from the Bhagavata Purana. In Guwahati, the project is expected to boost tourism, create employment and strengthen the city’s position as a cultural and economic hub of the Northeast, benefiting hospitality, retail and local businesses.