BJP govt spends Rs40B on Arunachal’s facelift job with eye on upcoming polls

itanagar — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid foundation stone of projects in Arunachal Pradesh worth over Rs40 billion and said his government was giving a lot of importance to improve connectivity in the sensitive border state.

Addressing at function at IG Park here, he said his government was giving importance to improve the highway, railway, airway and power situation in Arunachal Pradesh, which was neglected by the previous governments.

Terming the state “pride” of the country, Modi said it is the gateway of the nation as it guards the frontier. It is the duty of the government to develop the state at any cost, he said.

“Arunachal is a symbol of faith for the country as it gives us strength. The people used to greet each other with ‘Jai Hind’ and I salute the people for their patriotism,” the prime minister said adding, India will develop only if Arunachal and the entire northeast develops, he said.

“In the past 55 months, I have

paid several visits to Arunachal Pradesh and today inaugurated and laid foundation of projects worth over Rs40 billion,” he said.

The prime minister said work is going on for projects worth Rs130 billion in the state and alleged that the previous regime neglected the northeast region.

“Compare us with the previous government and see the difference,” he told the audience.

Modi added that his government has allocated Rs440 billion for the

region which is double of the previous UPA government. Modi laid the foundation stone for construction of greenfield Airport at Hollongi and inaugurated an upgraded and retrofitted airport at Tezu in Lohit district at a worth of Rs1.25 billion through remote at a function at IG Park here.

The Tezu airport will connect Guwahati, Jorhat and Hollongi. Fruit and flowers of the region can reach any market of the country in a few hours, he said. —