The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has said that the past decade has marked a major turning point for the Northeast, describing the Prime Minister as the architect of a “new and resurgent” region. He noted that the Northeast, once marked by decades of underinvestment, has now become a key driver of national growth, connectivity and cultural revival.

Sonowal said the region has moved from the margins of policymaking into the mainstream of national priorities, supported by extensive infrastructure expansion, economic reforms and sustained peace-building measures. He highlighted the completion of major gauge conversion works, connecting Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram to the broad-gauge network for the first time. Key achievements include the Bogibeel rail-cum-road bridge and the Bhairabi–Sairang link commissioned in June 2025. Capital connectivity rail projects for Nagaland, Manipur, Sikkim and Meghalaya are also progressing.

More than 11,000 km of national and strategic highways have been taken up over the past decade, along with improved road access to Kohima, Itanagar and Gangtok. Air connectivity has expanded from nine airports in 2014 to 19 today, supported by greenfield airports at Pakyong and Hollongi and upgraded terminals at Tezu, Rupsi and Agartala. Heliports and water aerodromes have further extended access to remote areas.

Sonowal said investment has surged, citing India’s first bamboo-based ethanol plant at Numaligarh, the Rs 22,594 crore Numaligarh Refinery expansion and the Rs 27,000 crore semiconductor assembly and test facility at Jagiroad. He added that the Northeast now leads India’s organic value chain, supported by deregulation of the bamboo sector and strengthened farmer-producer organisations.

Peace accords with Bodo, Karbi, Bru and other groups, along with a 75 per cent reduction in areas under AFSPA since 2014, have contributed to greater regional stability. Sonowal said the region is also witnessing a cultural revival, with national recognition for figures such as Bhupen Hazarika and the UNESCO inscription of Assam’s Maidams.

Aligned with the Act East Policy, the Northeast is emerging as a logistics and cultural gateway to Southeast Asia through improved border infrastructure and multimodal transport links. Sonowal said this transformation reflects the Prime Minister’s sustained engagement with the region, describing the progress as part of a broader resurgence across the country.