The government of Assam will set up a National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) wing at Rani on the outskirts of Guwahati, health minister Keshab Mahanta said on Friday.

Mahanta was present to select the land for the project. The minister identified the land adjoining the community health centre at Rani in West Guwahati.

During his visit, the health minister also directed officials to expedite the formalities so that the project can begin soon.

It may be noted that Assam was selected alongside four other states for setting of NCDC centres under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme by the Union ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

Apart from Guwahati, the other places selected are Dehradun, Bhopal, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru.

It may be noted that NCDC centres focus on the research, treatment and control of infectious diseases like Japanese Encephalitis, Malaria and Covid-19.