Guwahati, Dec. 22: The Assam government today announced extension of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to all 97 towns of the state and decided on developing Majuli as the first WiFi district of Assam.

Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal directed the urban development department to start implementing the housing scheme in all towns simultaneously from the first week of February.

He stressed on uniform structure for houses in all the towns under the scheme and hoped that its successful implementation would usher in a new life for thousands of homeless families.

The scheme was initially planned to be implemented in only nine towns of the state.

Dispur, however, has not specified the state's share of funds under the scheme.

Beneficiaries under the scheme - women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and economically weaker applicants - will be eligible to a central grant of Rs 1 lakh and government-subsidised loans of up to Rs 6 lakh.

On developing Majuli (his constituency) as the first WiFi district of Assam, Sonowal said steps had been taken to expedite development work in the river island. He said the decision was taken today in a meeting with officials of the departments of information and technology and science and technology.

Two days ago, the DoNER ministry had sanctioned Rs 207 crore for development of the island district.

Sonowal today also reviewed the implementation of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme and directed the urban development department to convene public meetings in the four towns where the scheme is to be implemented - Guwahati Dibrugarh, Nagaon and Silchar.