Guwahati: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday, December 4, hailed what he called a “historic transformation” of the Northeast under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, asserting that the region has evolved from decades of neglect into a key driver of India’s growth.
Addressing the media in New Delhi, Sonowal said the past decade has brought “an unprecedented shift” in development, connectivity and governance. “The Northeast, once on the margins of policymaking, has now moved to the heart of national priorities… Modi is the grand architect of a new and resurgent Northeast,” he remarked.
Sonowal highlighted sweeping improvements in connectivity, noting that major broad-gauge railway conversions have been completed, linking Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram. Projects such as the Bogibeel bridge and the Bhairabi–Sairang line have boosted access to remote areas, while capital connectivity projects in Nagaland, Manipur, Sikkim and Meghalaya are progressing.
Also Read: India Celebrates Navy Day, Honors Maritime Heroes and Chhatrapati Shivaji’s Legacy
In highways, more than 11,000 km of national and strategic roads have been developed over the last decade. Air connectivity has expanded dramatically, with the number of airports rising from nine in 2014 to 19, supported by new facilities at Pakyong and Hollongi and revamped terminals across the region.
The minister underscored major investments, including the Rs 22,594-crore expansion of Numaligarh Refinery, a bamboo bio-refinery, and the Rs 27,000-crore semiconductor facility at Jagiroad, expected to produce 15 billion chips annually and create 27,000 jobs.
He said peace accords with Bodo, Karbi and Bru groups, along with a 75% reduction in AFSPA coverage, have strengthened stability. Cultural recognition—from Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s national honours to Assam’s Maidams entering the UNESCO World Heritage List—has further boosted regional identity.
Sonowal added that under the Act East Policy, the Northeast is emerging as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia through integrated check posts, border trade hubs and multimodal transport links. “The story of the Northeast today,” he concluded, “is the story of a resurgent India.”
