Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, has unequivocally hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as ‘the grand architect of a new and resurgent Northeast,’ asserting that a region once neglected for seven decades has been fundamentally transformed into a major driver of national growth. Speaking on the vast development outcomes of the last decade, Sonowal claimed the Northeast has successfully transitioned ‘from the margins of policymaking to the mainstream of national priorities.’
The Minister stated that infrastructure and connectivity have been the cornerstone of this strategic roadmap. He noted that major gauge conversion work has been completed, linking previously unconnected states like Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram to India’s broad-gauge rail network. Landmark projects, including the completion of the Bogibeel rail-cum-road bridge in 2018 and the upcoming Bhairabi–Sairang link, have significantly expanded access. Furthermore, four capital connectivity rail projects are currently underway, alongside the international Agartala–Akhaura rail link with Bangladesh, inaugurated in late 2023. On roads, over 11,000 kilometres of upgraded national and strategic highways have been commissioned, drastically improving inter-state movement.
Air connectivity, according to Sonowal, has undergone ‘a revolution,’ expanding the number of operational airports from nine in 2014 to 19 today, bolstered by new greenfield terminals under the UDAN scheme. Economically, the region is now a major investment hub. This includes the bio-refinery at Numaligarh—India’s first bamboo-based ethanol plant—and the vast Rs 22,594 crore refinery expansion. Crucially, the minister highlighted the Rs 27,000 crore semiconductor assembly and test facility at Jagiroad, which is projected to produce 15 billion chips annually.
Sonowal stated: “The Modi decade has unlocked unprecedented economic potential for the Northeast—from the bamboo-based bio-refinery at Numaligarh to the first semiconductor plant at Jagiroad. These are not isolated projects; they reflect a renewed national confidence in our region.”
The transformation is not limited to economics; stability has also improved following peace accords with groups like the Bodo and Karbi, leading to a 75 per cent reduction in the contentious Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) since 2014, he said. Sonowal also championed the cultural revival, citing the national recognition for figures like Dr Bhupen Hazarika and the UNESCO listing of Assam’s Maidams. He concluded that, under the ‘Act East Policy,’ the Northeast is evolving into a ‘logistics and cultural gateway to Southeast Asia.’
