Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday that the Center was implementing nine major projects in the North-East, all of which cost more than Rs 1.34 lakh crore.
Once implemented, the projects will enhance road, rail and air connectivity.
“Nine major projects are being implemented in the North East. Each of them is a signature project. They have been cited to suggest what has been achieved in the Northeast for their size, scale and imaginative design, ”Sitharaman said in a speech at the third edition of the Natural Alliance in Development and Interdependence (NADI) Conclave here.
The river binds India and neighboring countries. Therefore, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman thinks that five aspects of trade, culture, communication, conservation and skill development need to be kept in mind in river management and allocation of funds.
Speaking as the chief guest on the second day of the River-3 Conference on ASEAN countries and Japan in Guwahati, Nirmala said the Center was implementing nine major projects in the field of railways, roads and aviation to develop communication infrastructure in the North East. The policy of the center is to give importance to the neighbors first. So the neighboring countries will also get the benefit of the projects. He said work is underway to build 5,000 km of navigable waterways in the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Bara. As a result, waterway communication with neighbors will be strengthened. Nine big projects have been undertaken in the north-east. The Indo-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge over the Feni River, and the Bugibil Bridge between Assam and Arunachal have been built. Work is underway on 15 aviation projects worth Tk 2,200 crore, 20 rail projects worth Tk 64,000 crore, 4,000 km road projects worth Tk 56,000 crore, 4G network along national highways, rural electrification and broadband projects in all panchayats.
Talking about NADI, he said, “This is an issue where many of our ministers are involved, interested and want to work. Repeatedly Act East and Look East are also finding traction when you have this type of conversation. When it is held in the northeast, it must accurately focus on areas that deserve all the attention. ”
“From my observations of this Asian Conclave and NADI over the last few years, the name is associated with river civilization and also focuses on the natural alliances that have been created for development and interdependence. This is a natural alliance that we want to build, ”said the Minister.
She said she was impressed that the organizers could choose five sis – trade, culture, connectivity, conservation and capacity building – where enough focus should be given.
If NADI, the name itself speaks of interconnection, it must be based on culture and trade, Sitharaman said. The 5 Cs really does give the five pillars on which this conclave, not only the 3rd edition, but also future editions should focus, he said.
“It simply came to our notice then. The eight sisters or eight Lakshmi, whom Prime Minister Narendra Modi has referred to, have been in dire need of that connection for decades, ”Sitharaman said.
“In the last seven years, the focus of the Center has been very much on these 5 CSs. Therefore, this version of NADI can actually take a lot further because there is a focus on five CSs like funding, ”he added.
Ambassadors and high commissioners from Southeast Asian countries were among the participants in the two-day conference, which ended on Sunday.
