Transformative Developments in Northeast India Under Modi's Leadership
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal commended PM Narendra Modi for revitalizing Northeast India, transforming it into a key player in national development. Highlighting significant infrastructure advancements, Sonowal noted the region's shift from neglect to prominence, with completed railway projects and ongoing capital connectivity initiatives. The government's commitment to enhancing connectivity through roads and railways is reshaping the Northeast into a vital engine for growth. Discover how these developments are paving the way for a brighter future in this historically underrepresented region.
Dec 4, 2025, 16:15 IST
Significant Progress in Northeast India
The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday for his role in reshaping the Northeast as a vital contributor to India's growth, connectivity, and national pride. He highlighted the region's transformation from decades of neglect to a focal point of national priorities, showcasing the government's commitment to infrastructure expansion, economic reforms, cultural revival, and long-term peace.
Sonowal pointed out that the Northeast has faced inadequate representation and investment for over seventy years. Under Modi's leadership, the region is now recognized as India's 'Ashtalakshmi'—not merely a border area but a new engine for national development. The changes have been historic, encompassing railways, capital connectivity, airports, highways, electricity, digital networks, and inland waterways.
The Minister emphasized that connectivity has been a cornerstone of Modi's roadmap. All major gauge conversion projects in the region have been completed, with Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram now connected to the broad gauge network, allowing goods and passenger trains to reach the interior for the first time. Additionally, the Bogibeel rail-cum-road bridge, completed in 2018, and the upcoming Bhairabi-Sairang link set to open in June 2025, have significantly improved access in Assam and Mizoram.
Four capital connectivity rail projects are currently underway in Nagaland, Manipur, Sikkim, and Meghalaya, while the India-Bangladesh Agartala-Akhaura rail link was inaugurated jointly by the Prime Ministers of both countries in November 2023. In terms of road infrastructure, over 11,000 kilometers of upgraded national and strategic highways have been constructed in the past decade. Key corridors include the Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura section, the Nechiphu-Hoj NH-13 project, and capital connectivity highways for Kohima, Itanagar, and Gangtok, many of which are expected to be completed by 2025.