INVC NEWS
New Delhi,
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has said that connectivity constraints, which hamper entrepreneurship in Northeast, are being effectively overcome and a fast-track expansion of road and rail network is gradually changing the scenario.
Addressing an interactive meet of the Members of Parliament from Northeast, organized by Federation of Industry & Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) here yesterday, Dr Jitendra Singh said that soon after the present government took over in 2014, two North-Eastern States, namely Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh were, for the first time, brought on the rail map of India. The rail track to Bangladesh from Agartala to Akhaura will be funded by the Ministry of DoNER on the Indian side, he added.
For the expansion of the road network, Dr Jitendra Singh said an exclusive Northeast Road Development Scheme has been constituted. For the convenience and cost-effective transport of goods and cargo, he said, the Waterways means of transport are being developed across Brahmaputra down up to Bay of Bengal.
Underlining the Prime Minister’s “Startup India” initiative in the Northeast, Dr Jitendra Singh invited the leaders from business and trade community to come forward and exploit the immense potential for entrepreneurship in the region. For instance, organic farming and food industry can immediately be set up there without any delay, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh called upon FINER and other such trade organizations to engage themselves in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to promote health sector and tourism. For the promotion of film shootings in the region, a Film and Television Institute has been sanctioned by the Government of India to be set up in the scenic State of Arunachal Pradesh, he added.
Members of Parliament from different political parties attended the meet, prominent among whom were Shri Bhubaneswar Kalita, Shri P.D. Rai, Shri Gaurav Gogoi, Ms. Sushmita Deb, Shri R.P. Sharma, Dr. T. Meinya and Shri T. Baiti.
