Bista, Rijiju highlight Central initiatives to build roads, railways in NE

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, JUNE 7, 2023 : Financial support from the Centrre for the north-east region has been substantial, with the yearly budget allocation for the development of the north-eastern states increasing by nearly 285 percent since2013-14, reaching Rs76,540crores in 2022-23,Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said while on a visit to Assam on Wednesday. 

Bista along with Union Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju visited various parts of Assam, where they met and interacted with the people, and shared with them the details of the various developmental initiatives being undertaken by the Centrre in the north-east region.

Bista addressed the BJP Sanyukta Morcha Sammelan where he spoke on the rail connectivity between north east with other parts of the nation, including the railway line in Sikkim reaching the China border.

He said: “For the first time since Independence, states like Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya, will be connected through rail lines. The Sevoke-Rangpo rail line will connect Sikkim and the important China border with the national rail grid. In Manipur, 93 per cent of physical work has been completed in the important Jiribam-Imphal Railway Line.” 

Bista said that the government had made remarkable progress in constructing and improving road infrastructure, with over 3,000 km of roads already completed and an additional 4,000 km being constructed through ongoing projects.

Notable ongoing projects include the four-laning of Dimapur-Kohima Road in Nagaland, the four-laning of Nagaon bypass to Holongi in Arunachal Pradesh, the two-laning of Aizawl – Tuipang NH-54 in Mizoram, the construction of Shillong-Dawki road.

Over the past nine years, the Central Govt had allocate do Rs 385 crore, significantly boosting the regional economy and connectivity to unprecedented levels.

With seven new air ports, and 29 completed air connectivity projects, the region had witnessed a significant upswing in regional connectivity and tourism. Recent developments included the inauguration of Donyi Polo Airport (formerly Holongi Airport) in Arunachal Pradesh, the redevelopment of Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala, Tripura, while the construction of new Greenfield Airports at Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh and Barapani Airport in Meghalaya were ongoing.

“PM Modi's "Look and Act East" policy has unleashed the true potential of the region, bringing the government closer to the people through inclusive governance, policies, and improved provision of government services.

Our government has worked hard in ensuring peace in the region by engaging in meaningful dialogue with various groups, which has resulted in signing of major peace accords have resulted in are duction in Armed Forces Special Powers Act in nearly 75 percent of the areas, paving the way for regional development,”said Bista.