Is Tripura Becoming Northeast’s Healthcare Hub? Rs 100 Crore Eye Hospital Just the Beginning

The Northeastern region of India is no longer the same as it used to be years ago. Recently, the Government of India, in collaboration with the states of Northeast, has been focusing heavily on building strong infrastructure, boosting connectivity, and improving the standard of living of the people living in the region.

A few days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. These projects, worth more than Rs 55,000 crore, aim to strengthen roadways, railways, power supply, healthcare, education, and even digital infrastructure in the region. Highways, bridges, hospitals, and hydropower projects are being constructed at a rapid pace to connect the region better with the rest of the country.

This is not the first time the central government and northeastern states have come together to improve the region. In the last 10 years, many major projects have been completed or are still underway. The earlier neglected region is now being transformed into a gateway of progress.

In 2014, only one state in the Northeast (Assam) was well connected by rail. But by 2024, all eight northeastern states are either connected or in the process of being connected by railway networks. Projects like Bogibeel Bridge, India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge in Assam, have made travel and transport easier.

The government has built more than 4,000 km of national highways in the region in the last 9 years, connecting remote areas and improving trade and movement. Under the UDAN scheme, airports like Pakyong in Sikkim, Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh, and Hollongi Airport near Itanagar were made operational, giving a boost to tourism and business.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Dibang Multipurpose Project is Asia’s biggest hydropower project under construction. It will generate 2,880 MW of electricity and also help in flood control. The North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) has improved power distribution in six northeastern states, reducing power cuts and improving daily life.

Digital India and Education

Over 1,300 mobile towers have been installed to bring 4G to remote villages in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland under the BharatNet Project. New Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya schools, and IIT-Guwahati’s expansion have made quality education more accessible to students in the region.

Healthcare, Tourism, and Cultural Development

The North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homeopathy (NEIAH) in Meghalaya and AIIMS Guwahati in Assam have improved healthcare services in the region. Tourist circuits like the Tezpur-Tawang circuit, promotion of hornbill festivals in Nagaland, and improvement in border trade centers have helped the local economy.

For decades, the Northeast was ignored in terms of development. But in the last 10 years, continuous efforts by the central government and the state governments have changed this narrative. These aren’t just symbolic projects – they are improving lives on the ground.

From roads and railways to hospitals and high-speed internet, every part of the Northeast is seeing progress. And these efforts are not stopping anytime soon. The government is committed to making the Northeast not just a part of India – but a powerful contributor to India’s growth story.

ALSO READ: “Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Inaugurates North East Investment Roadshow In Chennai”