Guwahati: The North Eastern Region has seen significant investment in road and railway infrastructure over the past five years, with multiple projects improving connectivity and boosting economic activity. From 2019-20 to 2023-24, substantial funding has been allocated to the construction of railway lines, national highways, and rural roads across the region.
During this period, 18 railway projects covering 1,368 kilometres were undertaken with a sanctioned cost of ₹74,972 crore. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways oversaw the development of 6,806 kilometres of national highways with an investment of ₹77,654 crore. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), 6,793 rural road projects spanning 25,011 kilometres were sanctioned at a cost of ₹19,448.89 crore. Additionally, 75 road projects covering 1,255 kilometres were implemented through the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) at a cost of ₹4,668 crore.
Tripura alone received ₹4,988 crore from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, ₹606.71 crore from the Ministry of Rural Development, and ₹347.82 crore from DoNER for road development over the five-year period.
These projects have improved access to markets, tourism, and cross-border trade while creating jobs and reducing logistics costs. Enhanced connectivity is also attracting private investment and contributing to urban development in the region.
Minister of State for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Sukanta Majumdar, provided these details in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
BI Bureau
