The Centre has significantly accelerated infrastructure and connectivity projects across the Northeast region, positioning it as a gateway to Southeast Asia under the Act East Policy. According to government data reported by Business Standard, 3,746 projects have been sanctioned under five Central Sector Schemes, with 2,730 projects completed at an approved cost of over ₹27,963 crore. The PM-DevINE scheme alone has an outlay of ₹6,600 crore for 2022-23 to 2025-26, representing a 100% centrally funded initiative for targeted infrastructure and social development.
The infrastructure investments have yielded measurable economic results for the Northeast region. As reported by Business Standard, expenditure of ₹5,22,081 crore has been incurred by different ministries and departments under their 10% GBS during 2014-24. These efforts have enhanced the North East Region's contribution to the country's GDP from 2.66% in 2014-15 to 2.91% in 2022-23. The region comprises eight states including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.
The Act East Policy, launched in 2014, has positioned the Northeast as central to India's engagement with Southeast Asia. According to Business Standard, the policy recognizes the region's strategic location and economic potential, focusing on connectivity, trade, cultural linkages, and border infrastructure. The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway serves as a flagship project, connecting Moreh in Manipur to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar, developing a vital land corridor for cross-border trade and movement.
Current implementation shows substantial ongoing activity across multiple sectors. As reported by Business Standard, the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) has 70 projects completed for road construction and widening, with 57 projects under implementation. The NESIDS Other Than Roads Infrastructure has 1,234 completed projects covering primary and secondary healthcare, education, power, water supply, roads and bridges, with 376 projects currently under implementation. The North Eastern Council projects show 495 ongoing projects and 1,344 completed projects.
The infrastructure development represents a strategic shift from viewing the Northeast as a frontier region to positioning it as a gateway for regional integration and growth. According to Business Standard, this transformation aligns with the Act East Policy's goal of transforming the region into a bridge between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The policy has maintained its focus over the past decade on enhancing connectivity, trade facilitation, and cultural linkages with neighboring countries.
