Lok Sabha Question No. 283 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Roadmap for Development of NER
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: SANKAR PRASAD DATTA

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 283**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON**

*Wednesday, July 22, 2015*

**QUESTION**

**Roadmap for Development of NER**

283. SHRI SHANKAR PRASAD DATTA

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

1. whether the Government  has taken note of the lack of development in North East India compared to other parts of the country;
2. if so, whether the Government has developed a roadmap for the development of the North East India; and
3. if so, the details thereof along with the time line fixed in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor?

**ANSWER**

**The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of**

**North Eastern Region**

**[Dr. Jitendra Singh]**

(a) 	to (c) The Government has taken note of the lack of adequate development.  Based on the performance analysis of the States during 10 th and 11 th Plan periods and issues discussed in various fora, Government has given special emphasis on the development of North East India during the 12 th Plan period. Road map for development of NER in respect of railways, telecommunications, roads, power and inland waterways is as under:-

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1. **Railways:**

Master Plan for development of railway infrastructure in the North-Eastern States includes:-

1. connectivity to all State capitals.
2. unigauge broad-gauge network in the region.
3. augmentation of network capacity for handling growth of traffic in future
4. expansion of network to unconnected areas of the region.
5. Strengthening international borders.
6. Improving trade and connectivity with neighbouring countries.

25 major infrastructural projects for New Line, Doubling and Gauge Conversion are sanctioned and ongoing in North Eastern States.  These include 10 National Projects.  Together these major projects cover a length of 3938 km. at a cost of Rs.58085.44 crore.

**II.  Telecommunication:**

Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for North East Region (NER) includes:-

(i)  	Provision of 2G  mobile coverage in identified uncovered areas.

(ii) 	Provision of seamless 2G mobile coverage along the National Highways in NER.

(iii) 	Ensuring reliability of and redundancy in the transmission network at State capitals and district headquarters in NER.

The Government has  approved  Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for the North East at an estimated cost of Rs.5336.18 crore.

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**III. Roads:**

Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East (SARDP-NE) includes upgradation of 10141 kms. road stretches of National Highways and State Roads, aims to upgrade National Highways connecting State Capitals to 4 lane or 2 lane  and to provide connectivity to all 88 District Headquarter towns of NER by at least 2-lane road.

So far, approval has been given for 2/4 laning of 6418 kms. of various categories of roads under Phase ‘A’ and Arunachal Package of SARDP-NE in entire North East at an estimated investment of Rs. 35416/- crore.

The target date of completion of Phase ‘A’ of SARDP-NE is March, 2017 and Arunachal Package is March, 2018.

**IV.  Power:**

Development of power sector *inter-alia* includes:-

1. **Generation:** 5576 MW of major Hydro Power Projects under Development of North East Region;

1. **Transmission:**

1. A comprehensive scheme for strengthening of transmission and distribution system in Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim sanctioned at an approved cost of Rs.4754.42 crore;

1. ‘NER Power System Improvement Project’ for strengthening of Transmission and Distribution system in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura sanctioned at approved cost of Rs.5111.33 crore for first phase of the project.

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**V.  Inland Waterways:**

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has a mandate to develop National Waterways including National Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra) from Bangladesh Border (near Dhubri) to Sadiya for the purpose of inland water transport.  Development of RO-RO terminal at Dhubri, River Bank Protection/Channelisation at Jogighopa, and Sling repair facility at Pandu (Guwahati) on major on-going projects.  Indo-Bangladesh Trade & Transit Protocol signed has been further extended.

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