Japan set to give boost to N-E infrastructure
In what is being seen as a sign of growing bonding between the two countries, Japan is set to give a big push for upgrading India’s highway infrastructure in the Northeast during the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to India in December.
This is in line with the NDA government’s Act East policy for developing the region that lags behind in infrastructure.
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to invest $1,510 million for developing 1,910km stretch of highway in the Northeast to improve road connectivity in the region. “Of this, Japan is likely to pledge approximately $687 million for upgrading 435km stretch of national highway in Mizoram and Meghalaya during Abe’s visit next month,” said an official.
Besides, Japan is also likely to commit funds for developing high-speed rail projects between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Japan has already provided loan to develop railway ministry’s ambitious Western Dedicated Freight Corridor project.
Japan is the only country other than Russia with which India holds annual summit. India is also the largest recipient of Japan’s overseas development assistance.
“India is also looking for Japanese cooperation to ramp up urban and sewerage infrastructure in the north-east, urban infrastructure projects in states like Jharkhand,” an official said.
A technical assistance project for five years for developing guidelines for roads in mountainous region has been agreed to be implemented with grant assistance from JICA. “A framework for cooperation between India’s ministry of road transport and Japan’s ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism was signed in September 2014 for cooperation in road and road transportation sector,” said a government official.