The North Eastern Council released more than Rs 589.6 million (mn) for development projects in Nagaland during May and June 2026, with the bulk of the funding earmarked for road connectivity under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme. The allocation also covered tourism, rural development, skill training and community infrastructure. The council presented the disbursements as part of efforts to strengthen regional links and improve access to essential services. Rs 480.2 mn was released under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (Roads) for seven key projects to improve connectivity within the state and with neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh. The works include upgrading the Thizema road via the Kohima bypass to the proposed Chiethu Airport through Nehre Model Village, the Phomching–Longding link and the Coco Road–Ghukiye Junction route. Other roads comprise Old Peren–New Peren via Chalkot Junction, the Jalukie–Deputy Commissioner's Office Complex road in Peren, Tuensang–Longleng and Khonoma–NH-29 via the Tzudza River. Funds were also released under the Scheme of NEC for community infrastructure and skill development projects, including a Skill Development Centre-cum-Garo Community Centre in Dimapur, a Rongmei Multi-Purpose Complex in Jalukie and a Tribal Artisans Resource Centre in Chümoukedima. The council released the first instalment for an Integrated Development Project in the backward areas of the Phomching Assembly constituency in Mon district, the project having an approved cost of Rs 62.6 mn. Other allocations during the period supported coffee processing, trade infrastructure, technical education and public amenities. The NEC announced the completion of the 9.6-km Glory Peak Tourist Road in Phek district, built at a cost of Rs 325 mn to improve access to Glory Peak, Kapamodzu Forest and Japan Cave. The council also released Rs 189.3 mn to regional institutions such as universities, technical institutes, non-governmental organisations and societies to support development across the Northeast. The funding backed initiatives including a state-level workshop on community-based eco-tourism, a physics research study by Nagaland University and a PM Gati Shakti geospatial capacity-building programme by the Nagaland GIS and Remote Sensing Centre in Kohima.