Lok Sabha Question No. 431 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Road and Transport Infrastructure Projects in North Eastern Region
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Shri Baijayant Panda

## Government of India

## Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.431

To be answered on

Wednesday, July 24, 2024/2 Shravan, 1946 (Saka)

## QUESTION

## Road and Transport Infrastructure Projects in North Eastern Region

## 431.  SHRI BAIJAYANT PANDA:

Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has an update on the progress of road and transport infrastructure projects in the North Eastern Region as on date; and
- (b) the  details  of  specific initiatives  taken  to improve  connectivity  within  the  region and with the rest of India?

## ANSWER

## The Minister of State of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [ Dr. Sukanta Majumdar ]

- (a)  and (b) Yes. Several Road and Transport infrastructure development projects have been taken up by the concerned Ministries and Departments of the Central Government in North Eastern Region (NER), which, inter-alia, include:

Road connectivity: Government has taken the specific initiative for improvement of connectivity  within  the  region  by  programs  such  as  SARDP-NE,  Bharatmala-I,  etc. and with rest of India through East-West Corridor program. During 2024-25 till May, 2024, a  total  of  78  km  of  National  Highway  road  have  been  constructed  in  NE States. During 2024-25 till June, 2024 a total expenditure of Rs 2859.00 crore has been made on NHs in NE States.

Air  connectivity:. The  number  of  airports  has  increased  to  17  by  2023  as compared to 9 in 2013. The traffic movement has also increased by 113% in last

10 years. Under UDAN scheme of Ministry of Civil Aviation, 194 valid fixed wing and  Helicopter  routes  are  awarded  in  North  Eastern  States,  which  will  help  in attracting tourist, investors and add to ease of doing business.

Rail  connectivity: In  order  to  improve  Rail  connectivity  within  the  North  Eastern States  and  with  rest  of  India,  18  Railway  infrastructure  projects  (13  New  Line,  05 Doubling), of total length of 1,368 km costing ₹74,972 crore falling fully/partly in the North Eastern Region are in planning/ approval/ construction stages, out of which 313 km length  has  been  commissioned  and  an expenditure  of  ₹40,549  crore  has  been incurred upto March 2024.

Waterway  connectivity :  Ministry  of  Ports,  Shipping  and  Waterways  (MoPSW), under its Sagarmala program, has taken up projects worth more than ₹1,000 crores for the development of North-East states. Total of 20 Waterways are operating in NER adding 19 in last 10 years.  The development of 6 ferry terminals at Kurua, Bahari, Dhubri,  Guijan,  Ghagor  &  Matmora  in  Assam  worth  ₹310  crores  will  cater  to  the transportation  needs  of  commuters,  which  will  ease  the  current  bottlenecks  of transportation.  Under  Indo-Bangladesh  Protocol  on  Inland  Water  Transit  &Trade (PIWT&T), number of waterway routes have been increased from 8 to 10 and Eleven Ports of call and two extended ports of call have been declared in each country under the PIWT&T. 4.7 million tonne of cargo moved on the IBP route in FY-2023-24.

In  addition,  Ministry  of  Development  of  North  Eastern  Region  (MDoNER)  is implementing  various  schemes/packages viz. North  East  Special  Infrastructure Development  Scheme-Roads  (NESIDS-Road),  Special  Packages  of  Assam [Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council (DHATC)  and  Karbi  Anglong  Autonomous  Territorial  Council  (KAATC)],  and Schemes of NEC (North Eastern Council), for the development of North Eastern Region under which projects of road and transport are sanctioned. Under these developmental schemes/packages since inception, 1,980 projects worth Rs.23,240.78 crore, including connectivity projects, have been sanctioned.

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