Union Minister Scindia urges a coordinated masterplan to boost roads, rail, air, digital, and trade links in the North Eastern Region by 2047
Assam, Arunachal, Mizoram, Sikkim Highlight State-Specific Connectivity Needs
The Impressive TimesTIT Correspondent
info@impressivetimes.com
New Delhi, August 8, 2025 – Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, has stressed the need for a coordinated approach to speed up infrastructure growth across the North East. He was speaking at the High-Level Task Force (HLTF) meeting on “Logistics and Connectivity in NER,” chaired by Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, in the presence of Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu, Mizoram’s Minister for Public Health Engineering & Rural Development Prof. Lalnilawma, and Sikkim’s Commerce & Industries Minister Tshering Thendup Bhutia.
The meeting, held on 6 August, focused on bridging gaps in highways, railways, waterways, air routes, logistics, and digital networks. It was decided that a comprehensive Infrastructure Masterplan will be drawn up in consultation with all eight North Eastern states and central ministries, ensuring a joint push for Viksit NER @ 2047.
Assam CM Dr. Sarma underlined the region’s role as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia and pressed for lowering high goods transportation costs. He announced faster execution of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project to link NER with Myanmar’s Sittwe Port.
Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu highlighted the lack of road access to many villages and called for leveraging PMGSY and other central schemes. He also suggested increasing flights from Hollongi Airport and positioning the North Eastern Council (NEC) as a NITI Aayog-like think tank.
Mizoram Minister Prof. Lalnilawma flagged that high logistics costs push up local commodity prices by over 20%, hurting competitiveness, and stressed on boosting digital connectivity.
Sikkim Minister Bhutia demanded an alternate alignment to NH-10, which is prone to disruption by landslides, and urged investment in climate-resilient infrastructure and Nepal trade facilities.
Create a regional infrastructure master grid.
Set up a monitoring mechanism for priority projects.
Offer policy incentives for multimodal logistics parks.
Strengthen cross-border trade links.
Enhance digital and power infrastructure.
Scindia also called for mapping all NER projects on the PM GatiShakti portal and updating state logistics policies before the next NEC plenary. He proposed setting up industrial clusters along transport corridors to spur economic activity.
The HLTF on infrastructure is one of eight task forces formed earlier this year, following the 72nd NEC plenary in Agartala, to address key development themes such as tourism, sports, investment, agriculture, and self-reliance in essential commodities.
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