Itanagar, Sep 21 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his inaugural visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Monday to lay the foundation stones for 13 significant development projects valued at over Rs 5,127 crore in Itanagar. He will also address a grand public meeting at Indira Gandhi Park, as confirmed by officials on Sunday.

A senior official reported that preparations are in full swing, including the beautification of roads and the construction of stages for the event.

In anticipation of the Prime Minister's visit, security measures have been heightened throughout the capital and its outskirts.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu shared on X, stating: "Walking through IG Park, Itanagar, overseeing preparations for Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji's visit."

He further remarked, "Arunachal has never received such persistent attention from a Prime Minister, showing genuine concern for the aspirations and development of our populace. We are excited to welcome Hon'ble PM Modi Ji as he initiates key projects and witnesses the transformative effects these initiatives will bring across Arunachal."

The official also noted that PM Modi will virtually lay the foundation stones for the 186-MW Tato-I hydroelectric project and the 240-MW Heo hydroelectric project, both located over the Yarjep River in Shi Yomi district.

These two hydroelectric projects will require a total investment of Rs 3,689 crore (Rs 1,750 crore and Rs 1,939 crore), producing an annual generation capacity of 1,803 million units.

Upon commissioning, these power plants will provide the state with free electricity valued at over Rs 98 crore annually, alongside a Local Area Development Fund exceeding Rs 16 crore per year for community development, the official added.

The Prime Minister will also virtually inaugurate a state-of-the-art integrated convention centre in Tawang, built at a cost of Rs 147 crore. This centre will not only host meetings, conferences, and exhibitions but will also create livelihood opportunities in tourism, services, and handicrafts, as per the official.

Additionally, PM Modi will lay the groundwork for 10 infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,291 crore, which include the 1,830-km Frontier Highway project and the second phase of the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP).

The proposed Frontier Highway project aims to run parallel to the McMahon Line, extending from Bomdila in West Kameng district to Vijaynagar in Changlang district.

This ambitious highway is set to enhance national security and significantly improve border connectivity, the official indicated.

Upon completion of the second phase of the VVP, 122 border villages will gain all-weather roads, 4G telecom networks, and on-grid electrification.

Among these villages, 67 are situated along the India-Myanmar border, and 55 are located along the India-Bhutan border with Arunachal Pradesh.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has allocated Rs 2,205 crore for the VVP, which aims at the holistic development of villages near international land borders (ILBs), excluding the Northern border already addressed under VVP-I.

With a comprehensive budget of Rs 6,839 crore, this initiative will be executed in strategic villages across states/UTs including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, concluding by FY 2028-29.

The program's goal is to enhance living conditions and provide sufficient livelihood opportunities to ensure prosperous and secure borders, curb trans-border crime, and integrate the border populace with the nation, fostering their role as "the eyes and ears of the border guarding forces," vital for internal security.

On Monday, the Prime Minister will also travel to Tripura.