Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated an Assam Bhawan in Chennai on Thursday.

He also announced the construction of a similar “home away from home” in Pune, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Chandigarh by the state government.

During the inaugural ceremony held in the afternoon, Sonowal said these government-built accommodation would not only help hundreds of “students, patients and job seekers” from Assam visiting Chennai but would also help build strong ties between the two states.

The function was attended by senior Tamil Nadu minister D. Jayakumar, Sonowal’s cabinet colleagues Chandan Brahma (BPF) and Atul Bora (AGP), ATDC top brass Jayanta Malla Baruah and N. Kalita, ATDC MD Bhaskar Phukan, principal secretary Rajesh Prasad and members of the Assam Association, Tamil Nadu and local BJP members.

Similar facilities, the chief minister said, would also be set up in major cities, including Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, Kochi, Chandigarh, Vellore while new ones will come up in Delhi and Calcutta.

The bhawans in Calcutta, Delhi, Mumbai are in huge demand because of safety, reasonable tariff and homely food.

Sonowal said these bhawans should not be seen only as a lodging facility. “These facilities will help Assam develop close ties with other states. These will establish Assam’s presence across India, help promote our culture and food, and serve as a bridge with other states,” Sonowal said, thanking the Tamil Nadu government for its support in setting up the bhawan.

The Rs 12.93-crore 18-room bhawan is spread over 4.16 katha of land belonging to the general administration department but it will be maintained by tourism department.

“Room rates will be fixed by the general administration department. We hope the tourism department will provide quality service and make it a self-sustaining venture,” Sonowal said.

The chief minister also used the occasion to seek investment from Tamil Nadu as “Guwahati will become the gateway to Southeast Asia”.