Marking 11 years of the Modi government, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has asserted that the administration has invested significantly in the Northeast, sanctioning ₹44,859 crore for over 3,600 projects. Sonowal highlighted that these investments aim to transform the region, addressing past neglect and ushering in an era of peace, progress, and prosperity. He strongly criticized the Congress party, stating they "forfeited the right to criticize" due to their alleged failure to develop the Northeast during their decades in power.
Sonowal, addressing a press conference in Shillong, emphasized that the Modi government has brought the Northeast into the mainstream of India's development journey with unprecedented investment and focused attention. He outlined a series of initiatives undertaken to mainstream the Northeast, including the development of 10 greenfield airports, which drastically improved connectivity. Operational airports have increased from 9 in 2014 to 19 by 2024. Further boosting connectivity is the high-speed corridor worth ₹22,864 crore from Mawlyngkhung to Panchgram, which is currently under construction. In Meghalaya alone, 540 km of National Highways have been added, alongside urban mobility projects in New Shillong and Tura under the PM-DevINE scheme.
According to Sonowal, the impact of these projects is already visible, with insurgency declining by 64% since 2014, leading to the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from 75% of the region. The Union Minister stated that the Northeast is being repositioned not as a peripheral zone but as India's vital 'Gateway to the East' with peace, progress, and prosperity at its core.
Sonowal also drew attention to landmark initiatives in healthcare, such as the establishment of South Asia's largest cancer care network in Assam. He further emphasized the success of the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025, which secured ₹4.3 lakh crore in investment commitments. These investments are projected to stimulate employment and catalyze industrial development across the region.
Tourism has emerged as a major focus area. Sonowal described Meghalaya as a gem in India's tourism crown and highlighted the Modi government's investments in sustainable tourism, including the sanction of ₹244 crore under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Iconic spots like Umium Lake, Sohpetbneng, Krang Suri Falls, Siju Caves, and Nokrek Reserve are being developed into global destinations, alongside the promotion of spiritual and heritage circuits, including Nartiang and Mawphlang, and innovative experiences like the Meghalayan Age Cave Trail.
Several social schemes have also been implemented in Meghalaya, including post-metric scholarships for over 76,000 Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Classes students and the disbursement of ₹2,331 crore in MUDRA loans to promote self-employment. Furthermore, there has been a threefold increase in National Health Mission (NHM) funding.
In addition to infrastructure and social development, the Modi government has also focused on agriculture and organic farming. More than 2.19 lakh farmers have benefited from the Mission Organic Value Chain Development, with 434 Farmer Producer Organizations formed, covering 1.73 lakh hectares. The region is emerging as a hub for organic farming and edible oil production, with 3.3 lakh gatherers and over 19,000 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) supported under the Van Dhan Vikas Yojana. The bamboo industry has also grown through reclassification and targeted missions.
Furthermore, the government is actively developing key infrastructure projects along NW2 (Brahmaputra) and NW16 (Barak), including the construction of passenger vessels, terminal facilities, and capacity-building initiatives. Progress has also been made on the proposed Inland Water Transport (IWT) project at Doyang Lake, with assessments of the potential of Noune and Shilloi Lakes in Nagaland for water sports and tourism.
