Assam: Cabinet allows shops to remain open 24X7 in major cities of the state, Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Silchar

Dibrugarh: In an effort to stimulate the economy and promote commerce, the Assam cabinet has approved stores in the state’s three largest towns, Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Silchar, to be open around the clock, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. These cities’ pubs and liquor stores are exempt from this permission and continue to operate at their regular hours.’

According to CM Sarma, the decision was made during the cabinet meeting that was held Thursday in Dibrugarh, which is expected to become the state’s second capital.

“Shops may now operate around the clock in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Silchar, as well as with longer hours in other places, without sacrificing the rights and conveniences of their employees! ” This decision does not apply to bars and liquor stores,” the Assam chief minister said in a post.

Sarma also defined the guidelines for employees’ working hours in order to safeguard workers, stating that no worker may work more than nine hours per day or more than 48 hours per week. Furthermore, no employee will be required to work longer than five hours straight without a minimum of thirty minutes’ break.

Any work done in excess of the weekly or daily allotment will be considered overtime, with a maximum of 125 hours over three months.

“All other safeguards to the workers available under the Act will continue to remain the same,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.

The CM also examined the state of current welfare initiatives in the area and the state of peace and order during his visit to Dibrugarh.

“Closing out a productive day in Dibrugarh by reviewing the law and order situation and the status of ongoing welfare works in the region,” the chief minister said in a previous post. We are on course to make the city the second capital of Assam.

With the approval of the Permanent Residential Certificate (PRC) for the Moran community, the launch of statewide health and wellness camps starting on March 31, the lifting of the age restriction for hiring National Health Mission staff, the establishment of the “Simen-Sissitongani Developmental Block” under Jonai LAC in Dhemaji district, the approval of Rs 262 crore for the improvement of 207 tea garden roads across 12 districts, and the approval of the Assam Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2025, the cabinet also took a number of other decisions aimed at promoting employment and development throughout the state.

By reducing PM2.5 and PM10 emissions and making use of mining waste, the proposed amendment seeks to encourage a “clean way of mining.”