Aizawl (Mizoram) [India], November 14 (HBTV): Union Minister of Communication Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, during his four-day northeast region visit, lauded the development of the Northeast under Prime Minister Modi's leadership.

In Mizoram, Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the Northeast region has witnessed significant progress over the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking to media persons in Aizawl, the DoNER Minister said that the focus of the NDA government is to transform the Northeast into a growth engine for the Indian economy.

'Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there has been an immense transformation in the development of the Northeast region in the last ten years. The Northeast is the vantage point and the entry point for all Southeast Asian countries into the Indian subcontinent and must play a very important role in the dynamics of India's growth,' the Union Minister said.

Speaking about infrastructure and human resource development in the Northeast, he noted that the region receives government funding of close to INR 27,000 crore per annum, along with 10 percent of the gross budgetary support from 55 line ministries. This amounts to over INR 1.05 lakh crore annually in capital expenditure from the Government of India.

Highlighting overall infrastructural development in the region, he mentioned that over 4,500 km of roads have been constructed under PMGSY, involving investments of approximately INR 50,000 crore.

'National highways have increased from 10,000 km to close to 16,000 km. In the Northeast, there were only nine airports, with two states lacking any airports. Today, there are 17 airports across the eight states. As for railways, only one state was connected earlier, but now three states are connected, and soon all the states will have railway connectivity. Currently, 19 railway projects are underway in the region, with an estimated cost of INR 82,000 crore, specifically including projects in Mizoram,' he said.

He pointed out that between 2004 and 2014, Mizoram received only INR 4,734 crore, averaging less than INR 500 crore annually. However, today, Mizoram has received close to INR 33,178 crore.

'In the area of roads, 910 km of national highways and approximately 600 km of national highway corridors have been sanctioned, with an investment of close to INR 11,465 crore. Mizoram has been connected to the Indian Railways' broad-gauge network at Bairabi since May 2016. Work on the Bairabi-Sairang rail line, spanning 52 km and costing INR 8,213 crore, is 93 percent complete, featuring 43 tunnels and 142 bridges,' the Union Minister said.

He further highlighted Mizoram's potential in civil aviation, telecommunications, tourism, horticulture, and agriculture.

The visit included a review of various schemes under the Ministry of DoNER in Mizoram. Scindia met with Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma and his team at the Planning and Implementation Department's Conference Hall in Aizawl. He also interacted with school students on the eve of Children’s Day.   

(ANI)