PM Modi Hails Northeast As Pillar Of India’s Progress During Itanagar Address

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday stressed that the Northeast stands as the driving force behind India’s development.

Addressing a public rally at Indira Gandhi Park, Itanagar, he unveils the foundation stones for 13 projects worth over ₹5,127 crore, reinforcing the Centre’s commitment to the region.

PM Modi notes India’s goal of generating 500 GW of electricity from solar, wind and water resources and underlines Arunachal Pradesh’s significant contribution through multiple power plants under commissioning.

He recalls that, for decades, the region lagged under previous governments but now receives unprecedented attention and investment.

The Prime Minister states that he has visited the Northeast more than 70 times in eleven years, with Union ministers making over 800 visits.

He emphasises that ministers travel beyond state capitals into remote and hilly areas to monitor projects and understand local needs.

Shifting from ‘Last’ to ‘First’ Villages

Prime Minister Modi criticises the past practice of treating Arunachal’s border villages as the ‘last villages of India’.

He affirms that these areas have now become the nation’s ‘first villages’ under the Centre’s development model.

Over 400 border villages receive all-weather roads, internet connectivity and other amenities, transforming them into tourism hubs.

Highlighting the Sela Tunnel, the world’s highest bi-lane tunnel inaugurated in March 2024, PM Modi points to enhanced connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh through highways, railways and air links, boosting trade, business and employment for youth.

He adds that formerly backward districts are upgraded as aspirational districts, ensuring “ease of living” through better healthcare, education and enterprise.

PM Modi reiterates that his government places ‘Nation First’, accelerating growth without vote-bank considerations.

He stresses that Arunachal Pradesh receives over ₹1 lakh crore in tax devolution during the past decade, 16 times more than earlier, alongside hundreds of development projects benefitting the state’s people.

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