Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav on Saturday, 20 June 2026, credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership over the past 12 years for transforming Northeast India's infrastructure landscape, calling the eight northeastern states — collectively referred to as the 'Ashtlakshmi' (Eight Goddesses of Prosperity) — the new centre of India's development story.

Context

In his post on X, Dr. Yadav highlighted a sweeping list of connectivity milestones achieved in the Northeast, stating that the region has undergone an 'unprecedented journey of development and prosperity' under Modi's 'visionary leadership.' He specifically cited the Sela Tunnel — built at an altitude of 13,000 feet in Arunachal Pradesh — and the Bogibeel Bridge over the Brahmaputra in Assam as landmark projects that have eased movement for local communities.

The post, tagged #12YearsOfRisingNorthEast, also cited expansion of airports from 9 to 17, addition of 1,840 km of new railway track, construction of more than 46,290 km of rural roads, and the opening of 90 UDAN flight routes connecting the region to the national mainstream.

Policy Backdrop

The figures cited by Dr. Yadav align with the central government's Act East Policy, announced in 2014, which repositioned the Northeast as a strategic gateway to Southeast Asia rather than a peripheral zone. Complementing this, the UDAN regional connectivity scheme, launched in 2016, specifically targeted underserved airports and routes across the eight northeastern states.

The Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East (SARDP-NE) was also expanded in successive phases after 2014, channelling significant central funds toward rural and border road connectivity. The Bogibeel Bridge, inaugurated in 2018, is the longest rail-cum-road bridge in India and was seen as a strategic asset for both civilian movement and defence logistics along the China border.

These investments are presented by the ruling BJP as foundational pillars of the Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision — the government's stated goal of making India a fully developed nation by the centenary of its independence.

Stakeholders and Impact

For the roughly 45 million residents of India's eight northeastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura — improved road and rail connectivity has direct implications for access to markets, healthcare, and education. Rural road expansion under programmes such as PMGSY has been particularly significant for remote hill communities historically cut off during monsoon months.

Aviation expansion through UDAN has made air travel more affordable in a region where difficult terrain makes surface travel slow and seasonal. The increase from 9 to 17 airports and 90 flight routes represents a substantial shift in the region's connectivity profile, with potential multiplier effects on tourism and trade.

What's Next

The #12YearsOfRisingNorthEast campaign signals a coordinated BJP effort to consolidate the Northeast's development record as a political and policy narrative ahead of upcoming state electoral cycles in the region. Observers will watch whether the next Union Budget or NITI Aayog review announces fresh allocations to sustain momentum on pending connectivity projects.

As India moves closer to the 2047 milestone, the Northeast's integration into national economic corridors — and its role as a land bridge to Southeast Asia — will remain a key test of whether the 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) vision translates into measurable ground-level change for the region's diverse communities.