Union Minister Ajay Tamta on Sunday flagged off three new buses of Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Services (APSTS) at Khonsa in Tirap district as part of the organisation's golden jubilee celebrations. The ceremony took place at the location where the service began with a single bus in 1975, underscoring the transport body's five decades of operation. Tamta congratulated the state transport department and APSTS for sustained public service in promoting socio-economic development and connecting remote border areas. An official PTI report said the vehicles were dedicated to the Tirap district.

Tamta underlined that robust transport infrastructure acts as a catalyst for growth and noted that strategic road networks, including National Highway-13, would significantly boost tourism, improve local livelihoods and drive economic progress. He indicated that the Central government would continue to support road development in the north-eastern state through the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF). The minister added that several mega projects were being executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

Arunachal Pradesh Transport Minister Ojing Tasing announced the construction of a modern bus terminal at Khonsa as a permanent golden jubilee gift following a proposal by local MLA Wanglin Lowangdong. The proposal had highlighted the urgent need to upgrade the five-decade-old structure and to introduce luxury buses to better serve passengers. Tasing said mountainous regions require region specific transport policies and noted that apart from the 18 operational stations multiple transport infrastructure projects were currently underway across the state.

Arunachal East Member of Parliament Tapir Gao emphasised the need for human resource development within the transport sector and advocated regular and rigorous training modules for drivers, conductors and mechanics to ensure passenger safety and service quality keep pace with the infrastructure boom. The event was presented as a reaffirmation of commitment to connect remote communities and to bolster livelihoods through improved mobility.