The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is mandated to develop the logistics sector nationally and leads an inter?ministerial coordination mechanism to align initiatives in the North Eastern Region with connectivity, trade and industrial policy. The framework is anchored in the Prime Minister GatiShakti National Master Plan (PM GatiShakti), launched in October 2021, which enables integrated planning. The approach seeks to harmonise logistics initiatives with wider economic and connectivity objectives.

An Inter?Ministerial Committee (IMC) was constituted by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) in July 2024 after the 71st Plenary of the North Eastern Council to assess the logistics ecosystem and recommend measures. A Steering Group under MDoNER monitors implementation and includes representatives of DPIIT (Logistics Division), concerned line ministries and the eight North Eastern states. The mechanism aims to improve coordination of planning and project delivery across jurisdictions.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has noted that, under India’s Act East and Neighbourhood First policies, two connectivity projects through Myanmar are under implementation to improve access to Association of Southeast Asian Nations markets: the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport and the India?Myanmar?Thailand Trilateral Highway. Improved rail, road and inland waterway links with Bangladesh are cited as enhancing connectivity for the North Eastern Region and supporting sub?regional integration. Institutional arrangements such as joint working groups on trade, sub?groups on land customs stations and integrated check post infrastructure, and joint committees on border haats facilitate coordination with Bangladesh.

The roadmap aims to position the North Eastern Region as a logistics and trade gateway through coordinated policy planning, institutional mechanisms and strengthened physical connectivity. PM GatiShakti?based planning supports integrated geospatial mapping of multimodal connectivity, industrial clusters, logistics parks, border infrastructure and economic assets, while line ministries implement priority projects to address gaps. The Minister of State in MDoNER provided this information in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.