PM Modi announces Rs 90,000 cr for improving NE roads, NHs

Addressing a public meeting held at Polo ground in Meghalaya’s capital city Shillong after inaugurating 261 km long 2-Laning of Shillong-Nongstoin Section of NH 106 and Nongstoin- Rongjeng Section of NH 127-B, Modi said that the Union government had already sanctioned around 4,000 km of National Highways in the NE region, for an amount of over Rs 32,000 crore.

Modi said the new road will serve as an east-west corridor and will boost economic activity in the state and establish a direct link between Shillong and Tura.

“Our motto is 'Transformation by transportation and overall development in the NE region is one of our top priorities. The Centre was executing 15 New Rail Line projects of nearly 1400 km length which would cost around Rs 47,000 crore rupees and boost rail infrastructure in the NE Region,” Modi said.

Highlighting several welfare measures undertaken by the NDA government for welfare of people in the NE region, the PM said the North East council which was set up in 1972 and it was only Morarji Desai who chaired the meeting of NE Council.

“After him, I got the opportunity to chair its meeting when our Government revived the council in last year,” Modi said.

Modi also said that, his government wants to make Meghalaya a top tourist destination.

“During my last visit to Meghalaya in May 2016, I had talked about promotion of tourism in the state. We want to make Meghalaya a top tourist destination. The Union government has sanctioned around Rs 100 crore for development of tourist destinations in the state,” Modi said.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)