AGARTALA, Nov 16:  Union Minister for Development of North East Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia announced on Friday that the central allocation for North Eastern states has increased fourfold over the past decade compared to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.

Addressing a press briefing at the Civil Secretariat in Agartala, Scindia emphasized the government’s commitment to transforming the North East into the “new growth engine of the country.” Highlighting the difference in budget allocations, he stated, “Before 2014, the budget for the North East stood at approximately Rs. 24,000 crores. Today, it has risen to Rs. 1.03 lakh crore, which is four times what the Congress-led UPA government allocated for this region.”

Highlighting progress under the BJP government, Scindia shared data on infrastructure development in the region over the past decade. He noted that 10,000 km of National Highway had been constructed in the NER during the first 65 years of Independence. In contrast, 5,500 km of National Highway has been built in the last ten years alone.

Scindia pointed out significant advancements in railway connectivity. “Until 2014, only one out of the eight northeastern states had railway connectivity. Today, three states are connected, and in the next 2-3 years, we aim to extend railway services to all eight northeastern states,” he said. Currently, 19 railway projects with a financial outlay of ₹82,000 crore are underway in the region. The pace of work has also tripled, with the monthly railway track-laying performance increasing from 60 km to 190 km under BJP leadership.

Focusing on Tripura’s development, Scindia highlighted the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Rs. 90,000 crore, which is growing at a robust rate of 9 percent. He also noted that the per capita GDP is increasing at an impressive 15 percent annually, with the per capita income now at Rs. 1.6 lakh. “This significant progress is a testament to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha,” Scindia said.

To enhance digital infrastructure, the Union Minister disclosed plans to install 119 mobile phone towers across Tripura, aiming to achieve saturation-level 4G connectivity.

Scindia concluded by reiterating the government’s focus on rapid development in the North East, emphasizing the region’s strategic importance in India’s growth story.