Once viewed as a distant frontier, Northeast India has undergone a remarkable transformation. No longer a peripheral region, it is quickly emerging as India’s strategic gateway to the East, forming a crucial bridge between our “Neighbourhood First” and “Act East” policy pillars.
PM Narendra Modi’s personal focus and attention to the Northeast has resulted in an unprecedented shift from a conflict-ridden and infrastructure-deficient region to a zone of development, connectivity, and prosperity. In the last 10 years, budgetary allocation for Northeast India has risen by over 200%, with over ₹5 trillion (approximately $60 billion) invested in creating new highways, rail links, border trade points and energy corridors, that are reshaping the regional landscape.
This massive infrastructure push is converting Northeast India into a vital land bridge, connecting the Indian subcontinent with Southeast Asia and beyond. The region’s strategic importance cannot be overstated: It represents the physical manifestation of India’s broader ambitions in the Indo-Pacific; it is where the subcontinent merges seamlessly with Asean.
Link: https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/building-the-digital-bridge-for-tomorrow-101756133898061.html