Latest news with #RisingNorth-East
News18
17-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Rising North-East India: Frontrunner Of Development
Last Updated: PM Modi has embraced the region's potential through a comprehensive developmental project. The North-Eastern region of India, comprised of eight states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim—is renowned for its beautiful sceneries and exceptional weather. This region, rich in both natural and artificial resources, has recently gained prominence on the global stage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inauguration of the 'Rising North-East' summit has spotlighted the region's potential, leading to Rs 4.3 lakh crore in investment interests, positioning it as India's next economic powerhouse. Modi has embraced the region's potential through a comprehensive developmental project. The Minister of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) highlighted eight key focus areas: agriculture, animal husbandry, sports, investments, economic corridors, infrastructure, textiles, and handicrafts. The North-Eastern region shares international boundaries with Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Thailand. Each state boasts unique cultures and traditions, making it a biodiversity hotspot and a culturally rich area. The region plays a crucial role in India's 'Act East Policy,' aimed at strengthening ties with Southeast Asia. With abundant natural resources and potential in agriculture and horticulture, the North-East is emerging as a hub for sustainable manufacturing and services. The region's diverse ethnic, religious, linguistic, and cultural landscape also makes it an attractive tourist destination, offering significant growth potential in tourism. Covering 2.6 lakh sq. km, the North-Eastern region accounts for 7.98 per cent of India's total geographical area and 3.78 per cent of its population. The terrain is a mix of hills and plains, with hills making up 70 per cent of the land. With a tribal population of around 54 per cent, especially in the hills, the region is home to approximately 135 Scheduled Tribe groups out of the total 705 across India. The area is rich in natural resources, including agro-horticultural and forest resources, hydroelectric potential, oil, natural gas, and minerals, making it ripe for investment and growth. Poor connectivity has historically hindered development, but transportation and infrastructure improvements are now a priority. The Indian government has launched several initiatives to enhance road infrastructure, such as the 3,000-km-long Trans Arunachal Highway in Arunachal Pradesh and the Dhola-Sadiya bridge in Assam, the longest in India. The Bharat Mala Pariyojana, a key highway development programme, aims to construct 35,000 km of highways across India, including significant projects in the North-East to boost connectivity and regional development. Air Connectivity New airports have been built, and existing ones upgraded, making air travel more comfortable and convenient. Incentives like reduced landing and parking fees have attracted airlines, increasing flight numbers. Improved air connectivity has made the North-East more accessible to tourists and businesses, boosting the local economy and regional growth. Rail Connectivity The Indian Railways has introduced special trains showcasing the region's cultural and natural heritage, promoting tourism and awareness. New and extended rail services have improved connectivity, contributing to economic growth. National Highways Expansion: India's National Highway network expanded from 65,569 km in 2004 to 1,46,145 km in 2024, with multi-lane stretches increasing from 18,371 km in 2014 to 48,422 km in 2024. Bharatmala Pariyojana: Launched in 2017, this programme aims to develop about 26,000 km of Economic Corridors. By November 2024, 18,926 km of roads were completed. Multimodal Logistics Parks (MMLPs): As part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana, 35 MMLPs are planned with a total investment of about Rs 46,000 crore, expected to handle around 700 million metric tonnes of cargo once operational. Civil Aviation Growth: The number of operational airports increased from 74 in 2014 to 157 by September 2024. In the North-East, operational airports grew from 9 in 2013 to 17 by 2023, leading to a 113% rise in traffic. The UDAN scheme added 194 fixed-wing and helicopter routes, boosting tourism, investment, and business. Arunachal Pradesh's first Greenfield airport at Hollongi, Itanagar, connects it to major cities. Inland Waterways Transport (IWT): A state-of-the-art IWT terminal at Jogighopa, Assam, connected to the Multi-Modal Logistics Park, serves as an international port for Bhutan and Bangladesh, enhancing logistics in the region. The development of National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra) and National Waterway-16 (Barak River) aims to reduce logistics costs. Urban and Industrial Growth: A semiconductor manufacturing plant is being established in Jagiroad, near Guwahati, Assam, in collaboration with the Tata Group. The first MMLP in India is under construction at Jogighopa, Assam, set to transform logistics, warehousing, and cargo movement. Policies and Schemes: Various state government initiatives like the Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme (UNNATI) aim at developing industries and generating employment. The North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) focuses on enhancing infrastructure related to water supply, power, connectivity, and tourism. The Ministry of DoNER has sanctioned 90 projects costing Rs 3,417.68 crore under NESIDS in the last three financial years. The Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) funds infrastructure and social development projects, promoting youth and women's livelihoods. The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan aims at strengthening multi-modal logistics and seamless freight corridors. Bharatmala Pariyojana focuses on expanding highway corridors, enhancing inter-state and cross-border trade. The 'Rising North-East' summit highlights the region's critical position in India, providing immense opportunities to drive the Indian economy. About the Author Monalisa Deka Monalisa Deka has done Ph.D. in Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, JNU New Delhi. tags : Northeast India view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 17, 2025, 16:14 IST News opinion Opinion | Rising North-East India: Frontrunner Of Development Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Assam Cong President blames BJP for illegal mining, drug trafficking in NE region
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its regional allies for illegal coal mining and rampant drug trafficking in North East India. 'Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji addressed the Rising North-East summit in Delhi, where he talked about various schemes and initiatives. But his words are far away from the ground reality. In the north-east, the actual situation is very critical. Under BJP rule, the region has become a hub for illegal coal mining and narcotics trafficking', said Gogoi, the president of the Congress Assam unit. Gogoi referred to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) April 25 press note highlighting the existence of an illegal coal syndicate in Assam and Meghalaya. 'According to the ED, investigations into this syndicate had resulted in the seizure of ₹1.5 crore in cash, alongside various laptops and diaries', Gogoi said. Also Read: AICC appoints Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi as Assam Congress chief Gogoi said that initially the Congress had welcomed the investigations, since 'this exposed the lies of the Chief Minister of Assam, who has always said that there was no illegal coal mining. But when there was no further investigation, no arrests were made, no Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed, we became suspicious of the ED also.' The Congress leader claimed that the actual purpose of the raids might have been to seize the cash on behalf of the BJP, rather than to shut down the syndicate. Gogoi went on to point out the drug trafficking issue in Mizoram and Meghalaya. 'In Mizoram, the minister of excise and narcotics has said that there has been an increase in drug smuggling into Mizoram… 458 people have been arrested. The government reports an increasing number of arrests as proof of its performance, but if these arrests were to act as a deterrent, the volume of drugs seized would decline. But this is not occurring… In Meghalaya, cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh stated that there are 300,000 addicts – this is 10% of the population! Amongst the youth, the prevalence rate is 30%', he said.
