Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled an array of projects totaling Rs 55,600 crore in the Northeast region, including the strategically significant Sela tunnel, which promises year-round connectivity to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. These projects, unveiled during a program in Itanagar, span across Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh. The Sela tunnel, constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 825 crore, stands as an engineering marvel, ensuring reliable connectivity to Tawang through the Sela pass on the Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang Road. This route holds strategic importance, especially given its proximity to the frontier with China.
In addition to inaugurating the Sela tunnel by flagging off an Arunachal Pradesh State Transport bus, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Dibang Multipurpose Hydropower Project in the Lower Dibang Valley district. Estimated at Rs 31,875 crore, this project is set to become the country’s highest dam structure.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister inaugurated various development projects in Arunachal Pradesh, including those related to roads, environment, and tourism, along with initiatives for school infrastructure upgrade. He also inaugurated over 1,100 projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission and 170 telecom towers, benefiting numerous villages.
In Manipur, projects worth more than Rs 3,400 crore were unveiled, including the Unity Mall, Manipur IT SEZ processing zone, and a specialized psychiatric care hospital. Similarly, in Nagaland, projects exceeding Rs 1,700 crore were initiated, covering infrastructure, road development, and sub-station upgradation.
Meghalaya witnessed projects worth over Rs 290 crore, focusing on IT Park development, road infrastructure enhancement, and the establishment of a Farmers Hostel-cum-Training Centre. Sikkim and Tripura also benefited from significant project unveilings, amounting to over Rs 450 crore and Rs 8,500 crore respectively.
Of particular significance is the launch of the UNNATI scheme, a transformative industrial development initiative for the Northeast region. Valued at Rs 10,000 crore, the scheme aims to bolster the industrial ecosystem, attract investments, and foster employment opportunities across all eight Northeastern states through incentives and support mechanisms.
Inauguration of key projects in Assam
PM Modi is also set to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects in Assam valued at Rs.18,000 crore, jointly undertaken by the governments of Assam and the central government. Among these projects is a Rs 3,992 crore initiative to construct a pipeline stretching from Barauni to Guwahati. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier revealed that the Prime Minister will additionally inaugurate and lay foundation stones for various petroleum projects as well, including three initiatives totaling Rs.1,555 crore. These projects are aimed to bolster domestic oil refining capacity across multiple facilities in Assam.
Improving rail connectivity in Assam
In a significant advancement for rail connectivity, PM Modi will also dedicate two railway line doubling projects valued at Rs.1,328 crore, spanning from Dhupdhara to Chhaygaon and from New Bongaigaon to Sorbhog.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Tezpur on Friday and stayed at the Kaziranga National Park overnight. He is expected to go on a safari ride on Saturday morning.
(With Agency Inputs)