The high roads

There has always been so much to do,and do earnestly,in the Northeast that any specific and immediate need ties itself up with larger,long-term development. The DoNER ministry was set up to develop the region,after it was recognised that its deprivation and underdevelopment called for a dedicated Union department. However,it was left to Arunachal to remind New Delhi time and again that if the Centre was not to be bothered by periodic Chinese noises,it had to develop the state. That involves infrastructure to begin with,followed by trade and industry,encompassing the power projects. While the airline services are an immediate need,they are undoubtedly linked to the larger transportation project of roadways to enable freer movement of people.

The Northeast is landlocked and needs gateways to markets. India may have lost out on rebuilding the Stilwell Road,but it still has the Sitwe port which can link the Northeast to the Bay of Bengal via NH 54 and the Kaladan river. Theres also NH 39 and the border infrastructure project which can build a trans-Asian road system. However,Delhi hasnt moved on utilising the recast India-Bangladesh relationship. A rail and road connection through Bangladesh would make life and livelihood immensely simpler and richer for the Northeast. Within the region and without,Delhi has to act unilaterally and quickly. The Northeast not only calls for redress of its underdevelopment but also offers the pivot of Indias Look East policy and geopolitical calculations in the east.

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