Paromita Das
New Delhi, 15th September: For decades, Bharat’s Northeast was often described as the country’s “distant frontier”—a land of immense natural beauty, cultural diversity, and strategic importance, yet trapped in the shadows of underdevelopment. States like Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Tripura carried aspirations for progress, but lack of infrastructure and poor connectivity left them feeling cut off from the national mainstream.
That narrative is changing dramatically. Over the last eleven years, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Northeast has shifted from being seen as a neglected periphery to becoming an integral part of Bharat’s growth story. With unprecedented investments in railways, highways, bridges, and digital infrastructure, the region is now emerging as a symbol of peace, prosperity, and integration.
Modi’s Vision: From Margins to Mainstream
Prime Minister Modi has consistently underlined the importance of the Northeast, calling it the “gateway to the East” under Bharat’s Act East Policy. His visits to Mizoram and Manipur this week reinforced that commitment. Speaking in Imphal, his first visit to the violence-hit state in two years, he declared: “We have to take Manipur forward on the path of peace.” His words carried both a promise of healing and a vision of development-led stability.
More than symbolic gestures, these visits have been accompanied by the inauguration of projects worth thousands of crores across Mizoram, Manipur, and Assam. From new railway lines and expressways to industrial corridors, the government’s strategy is clear: connectivity as the foundation of opportunity.
Railways: Engineering Marvels in the Hills
Perhaps no sector better illustrates this transformation than the railways. Since 2014, railway budget allocation for the Northeast has risen fivefold, reaching over ₹62,000 crore. Projects worth ₹77,000 crore are currently underway—an unprecedented scale of investment.
One landmark achievement is the Bairabi–Sairang railway line in Mizoram, built at a cost of more than ₹8,000 crore. Stretching 51 kilometers, it links Aizawl to the national railway grid for the first time since independence. With 143 bridges and 45 tunnels across some of the toughest terrain, this project is not just infrastructure—it is an engineering marvel. One of its bridges even surpasses Delhi’s Qutub Minar in height.
Beyond connectivity, this line will boost freight movement, open new markets for Mizoram’s bamboo and horticultural produce, and spur tourism. The launch of new train services like the Sairang–Delhi Rajdhani Express and the Mizoram Express to Kolkata puts Mizoram firmly on the national development map.
Other projects, such as the Jiribam–Imphal line in Manipur, the Dimapur–Kohima line in Nagaland, and the Sevoke–Rangpo line in Sikkim, promise to reshape regional mobility. For Nagaland and Sikkim, these will be historic firsts—linking Kohima and Rangpo to Bharat’s rail network for the first time, while simultaneously strengthening defense logistics along sensitive borders.
Roads, Bridges, and All-Weather Connectivity
Railways alone cannot bridge the Northeast’s geographical divides. Roads and bridges are equally crucial. Since 2014, over 16,200 km of National Highways have been built in the region.
In Mizoram, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Aizawl Bypass, a ₹500 crore project that will ease urban congestion and improve connectivity under the PM-DevINE scheme. The Chhimtuipui River Bridge, meanwhile, will provide all-weather access along the Lawngtlai–Siaha Road and strengthen cross-border trade routes.
In Manipur, infrastructure projects worth ₹7,300 crore were launched, including highways, urban road networks, and drainage improvements—critical for improving everyday life. Across Assam, projects worth over ₹18,530 crore have been rolled out.
Equally significant are rural roads. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), nearly 90,000 km of roads and over 2,300 bridges have been sanctioned in the Northeast, bringing remote villages closer to schools, hospitals, and markets.
A Region Empowered
The Northeast is now writing a new story—one of empowerment through connectivity. The Modi government’s investments have not merely been about building roads and railways but about transforming the social and economic fabric of the region.
Tourism, trade, agriculture, and education are already reaping benefits. Improved logistics are opening up markets for local produce—from Assam’s tea to Nagaland’s organic crops and Sikkim’s horticulture. Young people now see the possibility of opportunities at home rather than having to migrate to far-off cities.
Perhaps most importantly, infrastructure has also become an instrument of peace. Where insurgency once thrived on isolation, roads and railways now connect communities, making economic inclusion the new driver of stability.
A Long Overdue Correction
For decades, the Northeast was left behind while the rest of Bharat surged ahead. This neglect deepened mistrust and alienation. The transformation we now see is, therefore, not just about building physical assets—it is about correcting a historic imbalance.
That said, challenges remain. Peace in Manipur is still fragile, and environmental sustainability must be balanced with development. However, the trajectory is undeniably positive. By placing the Northeast at the center of his governance vision, Modi has altered the nation’s developmental compass.
From Frontier to Heartland
What was once considered Bharat’s remote frontier is today becoming a growth engine of the nation. The Northeast’s valleys, mountains, and border towns are now linked by railways, highways, and bridges that symbolize both engineering brilliance and political will.
As Prime Minister Modi remarked in Imphal, “Our Imphal is the city of possibilities.” Indeed, the entire Northeast is now a region of possibilities—possibilities of peace, prosperity, and partnership. The region has moved from the margins to the mainstream, and its story is now central to Bharat’s journey toward Viksit Bharat.
The post Bridging Borders: Modi’s Historic Push for Northeast Bharat’s Growth appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
