Roads of Tomorrow: Northeast India's Journey to Global Standards

Roads of Tomorrow: Northeast India's Journey to Global Standards

The government of India is going to revolutionize the road infrastructure of the Northeast with a grand plan to invest more than Rs 10 lakh crore in highway projects across the nation in the next two years. Much of this investment will be directed towards the Northeast, where it will work to bring its roads at par with those in the United States within two years. This is part of a larger plan to upgrade India's infrastructure to international standards.

Key Points:

Investment and Span: The Centre will be investing Rs 10 lakh crore on highway projects across the country with a focus in the Northeast and border states. In the northeastern states, there are 784 projects currently, which are of 21,355 km in length and cost Rs 3,73,484 crore.

Regional emphasis: Direct allocations are Rs 57,696 crore for Assam, Rs 90,000 crore for Bihar, Rs 42,000 crore for West Bengal, Rs 53,000 crore for Jharkhand, and Rs 58,000 crore for Odisha. Without Assam, almost Rs 1 lakh crore of schemes are being targeted in the Northeast this year.

Infrastructure Upgrades: The government plans to significantly enhance road infrastructure in the Northeast because of its difficult terrain and strategic position close to international borders.

Innovative Transport Solutions: A pilot project in Nagpur is a 135-seater eco-friendly bus, which could be replicated on major routes such as Delhi-Jaipur if successful.

This huge investment reflects the government's determination to revolutionize India's infrastructure landscape.

Source: Economic Times, India Today NE, Republic World