How Northeast Finally Took Wings

Source: The post is based on an article “How Northeast Finally Took Wings” published in The Times of India on 12^th November 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3- Growth and Development

News: The efforts taken by the current government have changed resulted in the growth and development in the North eastern states of India.

What progress has been made by PM Modi?

Government launched “Purvodaya” mission in 2014 to bring development, especially basic infrastructure to the Northeast.

The region was declared as a priority area and pledged to turn it into a growth engine for India. All the ministries were asked to spend at least 10% of their budget in the northeastern region.

These efforts brought change in the North eastern states, especially in the aviation sector.

What changes came in the aviation in North-East?

A separate budget was allocated for the aviation sector which led to the inclusive growth on aviation. Further, UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme acted as multiplier effects for the local economies with the increase in the number of flights.

For example, airports in five northeastern states Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland have seen flights take off for the first time in 75 years.

Airports of Sikkim and Assam are attracting travelers from all over the world. The airport in Arunachal Pradesh has also been brought on the civil aviation map for the first time. Krishi UDAN has also helped in the exporting agri-products worldwide.

Advance Landing Grounds (ALGs) are now developed for commercial air services to connect the remote areas. These were airstrips built shortly before the 1962 Sino-India war and are strategically important for India.

These developments in the aviation sector along with the improvement in rail and road connectivity has helped North-eastern states to get inclusive development.

What are the future projects for the North-Eastern States?

The routes under UDAN have been planned in such a way that ensures connectivity both vertically and horizontally, i.e., within the Northeast region as well as, connectivity with the rest of India.

There are also plans to provide helicopter services in the remotest areas. Two international air routes under PM’s “Act East Policy” – between Imphal-Mandalay and Agartala-Chittagong will be operationalised soon.

These all development will attract private investments in the North-eastern states ensuring that they are not excluded from the nation’s overall development.