Northeast Stories: Improving Infrastructure and connectivity

The North East region of India is rich in natural resources and has enormous potential for tourism, agriculture, and horticulture development. However, due to the lack of proper infrastructure, the Northeast region has not been able to utilize its potential fully.

The lack of proper infrastructure and connectivity has resulted in the region’s isolation from the rest of the country, making it difficult for businesses to operate and for people to access basic amenities. The difficult hilly terrain also poses significant challenges for developing connectivity and infrastructure in the region. The region’s mountainous terrain, dense forests, and rivers have made it difficult to build roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, leading to communication breakdowns and hindering the region’s economic growth and development.

More importantly, the Northeast has long been neglected by the government when it comes to infrastructure development, and as a result, it has suffered in terms of economic growth and social welfare.

However, in recent years, the government has taken several initiatives to develop the infrastructure of the Northeast, and this has led to a significant improvement in the region’s socio-economic condition. The Government of India has taken several initiatives to develop the infrastructure of the Northeast. One of the most significant initiatives is the construction of new highways and the expansion of existing ones.

The construction works taken under the East-West Corridor, North-South Corridor, and Bharatmala Pariyojana has improved road connectivity of the Northeast region with the rest of the country.

The Government is also working on the development of border roads in the region to improve connectivity with neighbouring countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar and also strengthen security measures against troublesome neighbours like China and Pakistan. The Northeast region has several rivers, including the Brahmaputra and the Barak, which can serve as important waterways for development of inland water transport facilities and jetties to improve connectivity within the region.

One of the significant infrastructure projects in the Northeast is the Bogibeel Bridge and the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge spanning across Brahmaputra river and improve connectivity within Assam and also with Arunachal Pradesh.

To improve Air connectivity in the Northeast, the government has taken significant initiatives under the UDAN. Under this scheme, several airports in the region have been upgraded, and new airports have been constructed in Meghalaya, Mizoram, Guwahati, Imphal, Agartala, Silchar, Sikkim, and other Dimapur.

The Imphal-Jiribam Rail line will connect Imphal, the eastern most Indian state with the Indian Railways network. The Noney Bridge, being constructed in Manipur is approximately 141 meters tall and spans a length of 703 meters is expected to be one of the longest railway bridges in the country once completed.

The government’s efforts to improve air, road, and waterway connectivity in the Northeast region are aimed at unlocking the region’s full potential, economic growth and development. While there are still several challenges to overcome, these initiatives are a significant step towards improving connectivity and creating new opportunities for the region’s people. The government must continue to invest in infrastructure development and work towards removing any obstacles to progress, to ensure the Northeast region can thrive in the years to come.