Lok Sabha Question No. 4343 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Regional Imbalances
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Shri Virendra Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MNINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4343 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026

## REGIONAL IMBALANCES

## 4343.    SHRI VIRENDRA SINGH:

Will the Minister of Planning be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to address regional imbalances through infrastructure development in the eastern and backward districts of the country;
- (b)        if so, whether any proposal for approval of road, rail, logistics hub,  industrial  corridor  or  other  Central  projects  is  under consideration  of  the  Government  particularly  in  Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh; and
- (c)          if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) to (c) The Government of India accords high priority to a balanced regional development and is addressing regional imbalances through accelerated infrastructure development in eastern and relatively underdeveloped regions of the country. Infrastructure development  and  connectivity  enhancement  are  being  undertaken through various sectoral programmes implemented by various

Ministries  and  departments.  Key  initiatives  include  PM  GatiShakti National  Master  Plan,  Bharatmala  Pariyojana,  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram speed speed  railway  corridors,  UDAN  (Ude  Desh  ka  Aam Nagrik)  Scheme,  Sagarmala,  Jal  Marg  Vikas  Project,  Pradhan  Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation

Sadak Yojana, capacity augmentation and development of high -and  semi -high -and Urban Transformation), and Smart Cities Mission (SCM).

The  Government  has  also  articulated  the  vision  of  Purvodaya  to transform eastern India into a major growth engine through infrastructure development, industrialization and improved connectivity. Under this initiative, industrial nodes under the AmritsarKolkata Industrial Corridor, including an industrial node at Gaya, and connectivity  projects  such  as  the  Patna-Purnea  Expressway,  BuxarBhagalpur  Expressway  and  an  additional  two -lane  bridge  over  the Ganga at Buxar are proposed. Under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP), four Industrial Smart CitiesIntegrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) Gaya in Bihar, and Krishnapatnam,  Orvakal  and  Kopparthy  Industrial  Areas  in  Andhra Pradesh-have been approved in Purvodaya States and are at various stages of implementation.

Also, Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh,  covering  351  acres  with  a  project  cost  of  ₹658  crore,  has been approved and is expected to generate approximately 17,700 jobs and attract investment of about ₹1,600 crore.

The  Union  Budget  2026 -27  places  strong  emphasis  on  initiatives  for Eastern  India.  Key  announcements  include  development  of  an  East Coast Industrial Corridor, creation of five major tourism destinations, deployment  of 4,000  e -buses,  and a dedicated scheme  for the development of Buddhist Circuits across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and other northeastern states. In the inland waterways sector, a Regional Centre of Excellence for skill development is proposed in Dibrugarh,  with  additional  training  centres  in  Kolkata  and  Varanasi, and development of a ship repair ecosystem in Varanasi and Patna to support inland navigation and logistics. Further, focused development

of  National  Waterway -5  on  the  Mahanadi  river  system  in  Odisha  has been envisaged to connect mineral -rich  regions  such  as  Talcher  and Angul  with  industrial  centres  and  ports  including  Paradeep  and Dhamra.

In  2018,  the  Government  of  India  launched  the  Aspirational  Districts Programme (ADP), a bold initiative designed to transform 112 of the country's most socio -economically challenged districts into engines of growth  and  opportunity.  The  programme's  core  philosophy  is  simple yet profound: shift the narrative from 'backwardness' to 'aspiration,' and  empower  districts  to  realize  their  latent  potential  through  data -driven governance, collaboration, and healthy competition.

Further,  infrastructure  development  projects  across  sectors  such  as roads, railways and multimodal connectivity are being implemented by the relevant Ministries and Departments in the State of Uttar Pradesh, including Chandauli district, to strengthen connectivity and facilitate economic development.