Context: In this episode of the Perspective Prog. based on North East Infra in Focus. The Northeast region of India comprises eight states- Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim. 

• According to 2011 census this 3.78% of country’s population resides in this region. It also comprises approx. 7.98% of country’s area including 5,483 Km of India's international borders. These eight states also constitute 3.37% of country’s total agriculture land holding and 34.5% of the total bamboo bearing area in the country. 
• Challenges being faced by the North Eastern Region have been assessed through various studies and reports submitted by different Committees, Commissions, Task Forces etc. appointed from time to time. 
• These assessments have broadly identified various measures to bridge the infrastructural gaps and remove the backlog in basic minimum services in North Eastern States that include connecting North-East with rest of India and world through rail, road, water and air connectivity, opening new trade and business opportunities by improving the banking sector and giving incentive to Industry sector etc. 
• Several initiatives have been undertaken by the Centre Government to develop North Eastern Region holistically for improving basic infrastructure and providing road, rail, water, telecom and air connectivity in the region. 
• Today we will discuss and analyse all these challenges and initiatives taken for Infrastructure Development in the north easter region of our country.

Opportunities for NER: Gateway to the East

• The region is a vantage entry point to southeastern Asian markets.
• Moreover, no less than five major bridges over Brahmaputra, along with the world’s longest bridge at Dhubri-Phulbari are in the various stages of construction which are going to unlock North East India completely.
• The two single biggest fast-moving projects is the 1500-kilometer-long Trans Arunachal Highway from Sousa north of Teepee to Naharkatiya near Nagaland through Arunachal Pradesh. The project is worth $1.4 Billion.
• The other one is the Jirbam-Imphal railway line, opening up Manipur to the vast railway network of India.
• Under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North-East (SARDP-NE), the Trans-Arunachal highway is being developed.
• Under the initiative, a sub-regional Motor Vehicle Agreement allows buses and later private vehicles with a Bhutan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal (BBIN) permit.

Concerns

• Lack of Agricultural Infrastructure: The absence of efficient cold storage chains exposes cultivators to market fluctuations.
• Tourism isn’t in full capacity: Tourism, too, has not made much headway due to poor infrastructure development.
• Federal Issues: There are uncoordinated and fragmented efforts by individual states.
• High expenditure: Each Ministry of the Union Government is required to spend at least 10 per cent of its budget in the North-East.
• Lack of investment: To harness the full potential of these sectors, significant investments will be required in upgrading the region’s infrastructure, education and skill development.

SWOT Analysis of the NER
Strengths

• Several tourist attractions such as Blue Mountain (Phawngpui-Mizoram), Palak Lake (Mizoram), Kangla Fort (Manipur), Majuli (river island in Assam).
• Presence of an ethnic, tribal culture each with unique customs and traditions.
• The north-eastern region has a very well-performing gender development index.
• Rich bamboo reserves.
• The abundance of natural resources like limestone as well as water for hydropower potential.
• Safe and clean, pollution-free environment.

Weakness

• Lack of proper connectivity.
• Limited tourism infrastructure facilities.
• Scarcity of skilled and unskilled labour.
• Floods and landslides in the monsoons make places inaccessible.
• Landlocked states.

Opportunities

• Development of the handicraft industry.
• Flood management system to improve accessibility.
• Linkages to existing tourism circuits.
• Trade can drastically be improved by improving infrastructural facilities and accessibility.

Threats

• Overuse and commercialization of eco-sensitive zones could lead to depletion of resources and weakening of attraction.
• Regional connectivity concerns.
• Land banks and land availability not addressed.
• Migration of local people to urban areas for employment prospects.

Conclusion

• The North-East region has great potential to develop not just as a self, sustaining economic unit of India but also contribute to the success story of the country, which is reflected by the PM’s focus on this region.