Tripura Chief Minister Prof (Dr) Manik Saha chaired the third meeting of the High-Level Task Force on Infrastructure, Logistics Cost and Connectivity in the North Eastern Region on 22 December 2025. Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M Scindia participated in the meeting, along with Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma and senior officials from central ministries and other northeastern states.

The task force reviewed key logistics and connectivity challenges across the region, assessed short-, medium- and long-term infrastructure priorities, and discussed institutional mechanisms and inter-ministerial coordination required for effective implementation. Presenting a phase-wise roadmap, the Tripura Chief Minister outlined measures to strengthen logistics, multimodal connectivity, cross-border trade corridors, digital and power enablers, as well as institutional and financial frameworks. He stressed the need to view the Northeast as a unified region and called for close coordination among central ministries, including roads and highways, railways, civil aviation, ports, shipping and waterways, power, IT and telecom, and petroleum and natural gas. He also highlighted the importance of timely resolution of forest and environmental clearance issues.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma said the state could serve as a regional gateway to neighbouring countries under the Act East Policy. He urged faster progress on strategic connectivity projects such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and emphasised the role of border trade, logistics and institutional support in achieving the task force’s objectives.

Union Minister Scindia appreciated the comprehensive roadmap proposed by the Tripura Chief Minister in consultation with other members of the task force, describing it as a strong framework for enhancing logistics and connectivity in the Northeast. He noted that effective execution would require active collaboration between central ministries and state governments and suggested seeking inputs from line ministries such as roads and highways, power, railways and NITI Aayog before finalising the task force’s report.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region constituted eight high-level task forces, each headed by a chief minister from a northeastern state, with the Union Minister for DoNER and three other northeastern chief ministers as members. The initiative follows a consensus reached at the 72nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council held in Agartala in December 2024.