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Centre Reviews Rs 2.33 Tn Infra Projects in North Eastern States

2026-01-23

A high-level review of Central Sector infrastructure projects under implementation in the North Eastern States was held in Guwahati, Assam, chaired by Rao Inderjit Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The meeting was organised in association with the Transformation & Development Department, Government of Assam, and attended by senior state and central government officials.

The review took place in the presence of Dr JB Ekka, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Assam, and Dilip Kumar Borah, Senior Most Secretary, Transformation and Development Department, Government of Assam. More than 100 officers and officials from 11 Central Ministries and their project implementing agencies, along with representatives from eight North Eastern state governments, participated in the deliberations.

The meeting underscored the role of infrastructure as a key driver of the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, with emphasis on integrated, inclusive and future-ready physical and digital networks to enhance productivity, competitiveness and quality of life. Strengthening connectivity, logistics efficiency and access to essential services was highlighted as critical for balanced regional development.

Setting the agenda, Supreet Singh Gulati, Joint Secretary, MoSPI, said that 221 Central Sector infrastructure projects, spanning 11 ministries and departments with a total original cost of Rs 2.33 trillion, are currently under implementation in the North Eastern Region. Secretary, MoSPI, Dr Saurabh Garg, highlighted the role of MoSPI’s Infrastructure and Project Monitoring Division and the PAIMANA portal in enabling data-driven monitoring of projects costing Rs 1.50 billion and above. He also encouraged states to nominate officers for MoSPI’s capacity-building programmes in project planning and management.

During the meeting, projects of 11 ministries were reviewed. For the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, 177 projects covering 3,634 km were examined. Nine railway projects implemented by the NorthEast Frontier Railway were reviewed, with progress noted despite challenges posed by difficult terrain and climatic conditions. Issues related to land acquisition, forest clearances and encroachments were flagged for state support.

Reviews of projects under the Ministries of Power, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Civil Aviation highlighted challenges related to contractors, land availability, compensation in forest areas, supply disruptions and monsoon impacts. The meeting concluded with a call for closer Centre–State coordination to resolve bottlenecks and accelerate project execution across the region.

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