Shillong(Meghalaya), June 19: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday launched projects worth over ₹1,250 crore in Meghalaya, declaring the Northeast is now central to India’s growth and not a distant corner.
Speaking at U Soso Tham Auditorium, she said the poet’s legacy mirrors the hills’ beauty and spirit. That same natural wealth, she noted, is Meghalaya’s biggest economic strength waiting to be unlocked.
The fresh investments target roads, schools, tourism, and livelihoods. Major works include the ₹957.46 crore logistics and connectivity project, ₹59.29 crore human capital push, ₹138.39 crore ecotourism and agri-livelihood plan, and ₹91.60 crore ecotourism infrastructure build.
Sitharaman said the region’s issue is not potential but conversion into prosperity. She listed Northeast gems like Meghalaya’s Lakadong turmeric and Khasi mandarin, Assam’s litchi, Manipur’s black rice, and Tripura’s queen pineapple as global-ready products needing better markets and value chains.
She credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for putting the Northeast at the heart of India’s development map. Modi has visited the region over 75 times since 2014, while Union Ministers logged more than 700 visits.
The last decade saw over 10,000 km of National Highways built in the Northeast for more than ₹1 lakh crore, with 5,000 km more in progress. Airports rose from nine to sixteen, flights nearly doubled, and passenger traffic more than tripled.
Externally Aided Projects, she said, bring more than funds. They deliver global expertise from World Bank, ADB, IFAD, and JICA. The new organic spice plant at Bhoirymbong proves local produce can win global markets when processed at home.
EAP funding to the Northeast surged over seven-fold since 2014, from ₹9,000 crore between 2004–2014 to ₹76,000 crore now. The shift treats the region as a core growth engine, not a periphery.
She pushed for tighter execution, private sector entry in tourism and logistics, stronger digital last-mile links, and better convergence of schemes. Development, she said, must blend tradition with innovation and heritage with entrepreneurship.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said Meghalaya is handling EAPs worth over ₹12,466 crore across sectors. He thanked the Centre and Finance Ministry for backing transformative work in the state.
India’s 2047 developed-nation goal, Sitharaman added, is impossible without a developed, connected, and prosperous Northeast.
Ministers Sanbor Shullai, Lahkmen Rymbui, and Timothy D. Shira joined officials, partners, and beneficiaries at the event.
