Government to fast track development in Northeast by extending road-rail network up to Myanmar border

The Northeastern regions of India will soon get a boost in development as the government is planning to expand road and railway network in the region along the international borders. Speaking at a meeting on the Indo-Myanmar border, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the government is committed to fast track development in the Northeastern region. The meeting was also attended by chief ministers of four Northeastern states in Aizawl. Singh stated that the Indo-Myanmar border is unique in many ways. It has a visa-free movement regime for the people living within 16 km on either side. The government does not hesitate to release funds for this border area. In the past three years, four states that have shared international boundary with Myanmar have received Rs 567.39 crore under the Border Area Development programme. Singh spoke highly of the Assam Rifles and praised them for their role in guarding the 1,643-km Indo-Myanmar border. Of the 1643 km of the international border that India shares with Myanmar, the state-wise break-up is Arunachal Pradesh (440 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km). Apart from development, other issues covered at the meeting include streamlining the free movement regime, works related to border survey and other co-ordination issues between the states and the Assam Rifles.