Projects worth Rs 40 billion launched in Arunachal Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly inaugurated and laid foundation stone of projects in Arunachal Pradesh worth over Rs 40 billion. The projects aim to improve connectivity in the sensitive border state by giving importance to improve the highway, railway, airway and power situation in Arunachal Pradesh.

Considering Arunachal Pradesh as the gateway to the nation as it guards the frontier, work is reportedly going on for projects worth Rs 130 billion in the state. Modi also laid the foundation stone for the construction of greenfield Airport at Hollongi and inaugurated an upgraded and retrofitted airport at Tezu in Lohit district at a worth of Rs 1.25 billion. The Tezu Airport is expected to connect Guwahati, Jorhat and Hollongi and improve the trading of fruits and flowers of the region across the country. The greenfield airport and rail network is also expected to flourish the industry and provide employment generation.

Besides, foundation stone has been reportedly laid of Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. The Sela Tunnel is expected to provide all-weather connectivity to the Tawang Valley for civilians as well as security forces and is expected to reduce the travel time to Tawang by an hour, boost tourism and related economic activities in the region.

Modi also dedicated to the nation the 110-MW Pare Hydroelectric Plant. The plant is constructed by NEEPCO and will reportedly harness hydro power potential of the river Dikrong (tributary of Brahmaputra) and provide cheap hydro electric power to the northeastern states, thereby improving power availability in the region. Other than that, under the Saubhagya Scheme, he also declared 100 per cent household electrification in Arunachal Pradesh.

Along with inaugurating 50 health and wellness centres in the state, he also laid the foundation stone for a permanent campus of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) at Jote. The permanent campus of FTII is expected to come up at Jollang-Rakap (Jote), Papum Pare. This is reportedly the third Film and Television Institute of Ministry of I&B. The first two are in FTII Pune and SRFTI Kolkata.

Modi also laid the stones of seven 132/33 KV and 24 33/11 KV electric substations under Comprehensive Scheme and reportedly inaugurated a new Doordarshan 24-hours channel for Arunachal Pradesh.