In recent years, India’s northeast region has gained attention for its potential in various sectors. With a slew of projects worth Rs. 1,34,200 crore, the Indian government plans to enhance rail, road, and air connectivity to boost development. These initiatives aim to bring India closer to the North-East and vice-versa while also focusing on connectivity with Southeast Asian countries.
Major Infrastructure Projects in the Northeast
There are several key infrastructure initiatives underway in the northeast, including:
– Rail, Road and Air Connectivity: The development of 4,000 km of roads, 20 railway projects for 2,011 km, and 15 air connectivity projects.
– Waterways Connectivity: National waterways on the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Barak rivers are under development.
– Eastern Waterways Connectivity Transport Grid: This project aims to connect the northeast with the rest of India by offering 5,000 km of navigable waterways.
– North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP): This initiative focuses on strengthening Intra-State Transmission and Distribution systems to spur economic development in the northeast.
– Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East (PM-DevINE): Announced in Union Budget 2022-23, this initiative will fund infrastructure and social development projects based on the needs of the North-East.
Importance of the North-East Region
The North-East region holds significant strategic and economic value due to its location, links with Southeast Asia, natural resources, tourism potential, and cultural significance. It serves as a bridge between India and Southeast Asia, and houses around 34% of the country’s water resources and approximately 40% of India’s hydropower potential.
Government Schemes and Initiatives for the North-East Region
To encourage the growth and development of the North-East region, the government has introduced various schemes and initiatives such as:
– Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER): Established in 2001 to promote development in the region.
– Infrastructure Related Initiatives like Bharatmala Pariyojana (BMP) for road infrastructure and Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN to make flying more affordable.
– Connectivity Projects like Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project (Myanmar) to develop water connectivity and Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Corridor.
– Tourism Promotion through Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism.
– North-East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS) to encourage employment in the North-East states.
– The National Bamboo Mission aims to capitalize on the special significance that bamboo has for the Northeast.
– North Eastern Region Vision 2020 and Digital North East Vision 2022 to provide a framework for the development of the North-East region and leverage digital technologies to enhance the ease of living, respectively.
Investment in Infrastructure and Its Role
Investing in infrastructure not only generates employment but also plays a significant role in preventing secessionist movements in the North-East region. As the region is surrounded by national and international borders, both national and international infrastructure development is the best choice for inclusive development in India’s northeast.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question
The UPSC Civil Services Examination often includes questions related to the North-East region. For instance, in 2017, one question asked about the minimum number of States within India through which you can travel, including the origin and the destination, while traveling by road from Kohima to Kottayam. The answer was seven states. Another question in 2014 asked to match Dampa Tiger Reserve, Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary, and Saramati Peak with their respective locations. The correctly matched pairs were Dampa Tiger Reserve: Mizoram and Saramati Peak: Nagaland.
