Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that connectivity projects comprising road, rail and air worth Rs 1.76 lakh crore would be completed by 2025 in the northeastern region.
Inaugurating and laying the foundation stones of 11 projects worth Rs 2,500 crore in Mizoram, the Home Minister said that the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project is said to be the most significant project that India has undertaken in Myanmar.
The Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project was jointly undertaken by India and Myanmar to create a multi-modal mode of transport for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as to the northeastern region of India through Myanmar.
Shah said that budgetary allocation under PM-DevINE (Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region) has been increased by 276 per cent.
"Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister in India who visited 53 times in the northeastern region in the past nine years while the central ministers visited 432 times in the region to take forward the development of the region," the Home Minister said adding that development of the region is Modi government's one of the priority sectors.
He said that with the surrender of 8,000 militants of different extremist outfits and signing of various accords, violent activities have been reduced to a large extent in the region.
Shah inaugurated the Assam Rifles' new battalion headquarters at Zokhawsang, which is 15 km away from Aizawl city.
The Home Minister laid the foundation stones for several infrastructural projects, including a smart city project, Aizawl Bypass roads and several roadway projects for Aizawl, Champhai and Mamit districts.
He also laid foundation stone for Rs 193 crore Laldenga Cultural Centre, to be built on the northern side of Assam Rifles ground in the heart of the state capital.
Laldenga, who was the founder of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), spearheaded a cessationist movement for two decades between 1966 and 1986 and was the first chief minister of Mizoram after it attained statehood in 1987.
According to officials, Assam Rifles, which has been guarding Mizoram's 510 km border with Myanmar, has two bases in Aizawl, one at Zodin and the other at Khatla.
The battalion headquarters at Zodin has been shifted to Zokhawsang.
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said that with the laying of the foundation of Laldenga Cultural Centre and shifting of the Assam Rifles battalion headquarters, the aspiration of the MNF in particular and people of Mizoram in general has come to a reality.
Relocation of the Assam Rifles from the heart of Aizawl city has been one of the major commitments of the MNF since the early 1990s.
The demand for shifting of the Assam Rifles was first raised by Laldenga in 1988 after the central paramilitary force killed seven civilians in a clash.
The relocation was also one of the important promises of the MNF in the last Assembly polls held in November 2018.
In February 2019, the Union Home Ministry directed the Assam Rifles to shift its battalion headquarters to Zokhawsang by May 31 of that year.
However, it was delayed due to various reasons.
Tripura demanded 20pc devolution of taxes in forests and ecology category: CM Saha
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said, adding that keeping this in mind, the state government has sought 20 per cent devolution of taxes in the forests and ecology category to the 16th Finance Commission, which is now visiting the state.
Stage set for FM Sitharaman to present Budget 2025-26 tomorrow
The unveiling of the Economic Survey on Friday sets the stage for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present the Union Budget for 2025-26 in Parliament on Saturday (February 1), which is expected to continue the government's policy of giving a big push to economic growth with equity.
CPI-M central committee member Jitendra Chaudhury re-elected as Tripura unit Secretary
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) central committee member Jitendra Chaudhury re-elected as party’s Tripura state Secretary in the three-day (January 29 to 31) 24th state conference of the Left party.
States should boost biz reforms to generate higher incomes for citizens: Eco Survey
States should focus on business reforms on a priority basis to achieve buoyancies in some industrial or service sectors, the Economic Survey 2024-25 said on Friday.
NCERT team seizes pirated textbooks in Agartala
Officials of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), along with Tripura Police, seized pirated NCERT books that were being sold to students in bookshops in Agartala, officials said on Friday.
Mamta Kulkarni's past haunts her, leads to expulsion from Kinnar Akhada
Actress Mamta Kulkarni, who ruled the 90s, has been expelled from the Kinnar Akhada. The designation of Mahamandaleshwar, which was given to the actress, has been revoked. The reason behind the same has been revealed to the actress’ past link to cinema, and her alleged criminal past.
Eco Survey suggests enhanced deregulation for MSMEs to boost growth
Faster economic growth is only possible if the Union and state governments continue to implement reforms that allow small and medium enterprises to operate efficiently and compete cost-effectively, said the Economic Survey 2024 on Friday.
Lifestyle choices, workplace culture key for mental well-being, productivity: Eco Survey
Lifestyle choices and workplace culture are critical for the mental well-being and thus, the productivity of the people in India, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25 on Friday.