Successive visits to the Northeast in the first three months of the year (2026) by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi amply demonstrate the Prime Minister’s commitment towards the development of the strategically important Northeast region of the country. Each visit has seen the inauguration of critical projects of vital importance to the country, particularly to the Northeast region.
His latest visit to Assam was on 13 and 14 March 2026, during which he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of critical infrastructure projects worth over ₹47,600 crores. The prominent projects include the bhoomi pujan of the Shillong–Silchar high-speed corridor, inauguration of the Kopili Hydro-Electric Project, the Numaligarh–Siliguri Product Pipeline Capacity Enhancement Project, railway electrification projects, etc.
Another landmark event during the visit of the Prime Minister towards the welfare of 3.5 lakh tea garden workers scattered over 825 tea gardens of the state was the distribution of land ownership certificates to them. It is the first such move since their forefathers were brought by the British from the Chotanagpur Plateau (Central India) nearly two centuries ago.
The first visit of the year by the Prime Minister to Assam was on 17 and 18 January, when he performed the Bhumi Pujan of the proposed Kaziranga Elevated Corridor of 35 km length, being constructed at an approximate cost of ₹6,950 crores. This ambitious project, while ensuring the safety of animals during the monsoon season, will ensure environmental protection besides reducing travel time to Arunachal Pradesh and Dibrugarh town located in the eastern part of the country.
The animals of the flood-prone Kaziranga National Park (KNP) will have free access during the rainy months to the hills of Karbi Anglong located south of National Highway 27. While vehicles will pass over the elevated corridor, the animals will pass underneath without any hindrance. During the visit, the Prime Minister also flagged off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains, namely the Guwahati (Kamakhya)–Rohtak Amrit Bharat Express and the Dibrugarh–Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) Amrit Bharat Express.
These new train services will enhance rail connectivity between the Northeast and Northern India, enabling safer and more convenient travel for the people. It is pertinent to note that almost all state capitals in the Northeast are connected by train. It is also worthwhile to mention that the longest train of the Indian Railways is the Dibrugarh–Kanyakumari Vivek Express, operating between Dibrugarh, the easternmost major city in Assam, and Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, covering a total distance of 4,218 km.
During the second visit to the state on 13 February, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Kumar Bhaskar Barman Bridge over the river Brahmaputra, connecting Guwahati with North Guwahati. The bridge, constructed at an expense of ₹3,030 crores, will improve regional connectivity and urban mobility while also decongesting Guwahati city. Meanwhile, the Assam Government has already moved, or is in the process of moving, some important institutions such as the High Court from the city to North Guwahati.
It is pertinent to note that at the time of Chinese aggression in 1962, there was only one bridge over the 764 km long Brahmaputra River. Now Assam can boast of seven bridges spanning the entire state, starting with the Bogibeel Bridge in the east (Tinsukia district) to the Nar-Narayan Setu in the west (Goalpara district). A few more bridges are under various stages of construction.
Another notable infrastructure project approved on 12 February by the Central Government was the construction of an underground tunnel under the Brahmaputra River, which will connect the two towns of Gohpur in the north and Numaligarh in the south. The project, planned at a cost of ₹18,600 crores, includes the construction of 15.79 km long four-lane tunnels under the river and is likely to be completed by 2025. This four-lane tunnel will reduce the distance between the two towns from 240 km to only 34 km and thus significantly reduce travel time.
What is equally important is that, besides helping the region in trade and commerce, this will provide another avenue for the induction of the Army to the Arunachal border. Another important landmark of the Prime Minister’s visit on 13 February was the inauguration of Emergency Landing Facilities (ELF) at Moran near Dibrugarh. The dual-use runway of 4.5 km length, constructed about 300 km from the Chinese border on National Highway 2, enhances military preparedness and disaster response capability. This will provide great flexibility to the Indian Air Force in case permanent runways are damaged during war, as well as for other emergencies.
It is pertinent to note that the Government has identified 28 locations for such ELFs, which include five in Assam and four in West Bengal. The first Emergency Landing Facility was inaugurated in the year 2021 at Barmer in Rajasthan. The ELFs, besides helping the defence forces, also allow quicker mobilization of rescue teams, relief materials, and essential supplies in case of natural calamities.
It is not only land connectivity that is being enhanced; adequate thrust is also being given to the exploitation of the full potential of the river Brahmaputra and its important tributaries. Today Assam has an inland water network featuring 15 National Waterways (NW), with Brahmaputra (NW-2) and Barak serving as the primary channels. Other major developments include the Bogibeel (Dibrugarh) container terminal. Cargo transport has seen a 53% increase in traffic during the financial year 2024–25.
Similarly, air connectivity has seen rapid expansion, with many Advanced Landing Grounds, including Hollongi and Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh, being converted into full-fledged airports. Guwahati Airport has been modernized to handle 1.3 crore passengers annually, acting as a gateway to seven international destinations. Feasibility studies are underway to develop new airports. Helicopter services connect a number of interior and remote areas of the Northeast region.
Construction of bridges and other infrastructure such as the elevated corridor, underwater tunnel, airports, as well as inland water transport, not only brings economic prosperity to the region but also addresses the country’s security concerns while augmenting India’s Act East Policy. Better connectivity in terms of road, rail, air, and waterways means faster mobilization for the security forces, besides reducing the time for troops to reach their homes during leave and other emergencies.
The varied steps taken by the Central Government in recent years have ushered in rapid development in connectivity as well as holistic growth of the region, be it in agriculture, industry, or employment generation.
