Union Minister for Development of the North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday, 12 October unveiled development projects worth approximately ₹350 crore in Mizoram, covering road connectivity, electricity, water supply, healthcare, and sports infrastructure. The minister described the initiatives as a reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of transforming the Northeast and accelerating the region's economic growth.

Key Inaugurations and Foundation Stones

Scindia inaugurated the Aizawl Institute of Arts and Music for the North Eastern Region at Tuivamit, on the western outskirts of Aizawl, and virtually laid foundation stones for nine other projects in the presence of Chief Minister Lalduhoma. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mizoram Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena, DoNER Secretary Katikithala Srinivas, and North Eastern Council (NEC) Secretary Satinder Kumar Bhalla, along with senior officials from the Ministry of DoNER and various state government departments.

Speaking to reporters after landing at Lengpui airport, Scindia said the projects would contribute significantly to the development of Mizoram and the wider northeastern region. He also noted that he had visited the Northeast 35 times in the past two-and-a-half years, underlining the region's centrality to India's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

What the Nine Projects Cover

The nine projects span several critical sectors. They include the improvement and upgradation of Daido Vangkawt Road; construction of a 132-kV transmission line from Bairabi to West Phaileng via Mamit, along with associated bays; and augmentation of the North Vanlaiphai Water Supply Scheme.

Additional projects include construction of an AYUSH Development Centre at MINECO; the Pukzing-Silsuri Road and the Tualpui-Champhai Road; upgradation of oil palm link roads across Kolasib, Mamit, Lunglei, and Lawngtlai districts; construction of a 40-bedded hostel for the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) School at Zemabawk; and development of sports infrastructure across the state. These are being implemented under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) and the North Eastern Council (NEC) frameworks.

DoNER Projects and Implementation Progress

Scindia said approximately 375 projects are being implemented in Mizoram under the Ministry of DoNER, of which around 75 per cent have been completed. He urged citizens to make effective use of opportunities created by these initiatives to accelerate the state's progress.

The minister also praised Mizoram's natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, stressing the importance of preserving cultural traditions alongside advancing development. He highlighted India's broader technological milestones, including the successful Chandrayaan-3 Moon mission and the development of an integrated 4G telecommunications stack.

Northeast Bankers' Conclave in Aizawl

Scindia announced that Aizawl would host the Northeast Bankers' Conclave on Tuesday, 13 October, following the previous edition held in Agartala, the capital of Tripura. The conclave, to be held at Mizoram University in association with the Department of Financial Services, aims to improve access to institutional credit and encourage investment across the region — particularly for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and entrepreneurs.

He noted that investments worth nearly ₹4.5 lakh crore had been committed to the Northeast at the Northeast Investors' Conclave in 2025, with a substantial share earmarked for Mizoram. 'This deepening effort will result in greater economic potential and GDP growth in all our eight states,' Scindia said. Chief Minister Lalduhoma thanked the minister for his efforts and expressed confidence the projects would bring substantial benefits to Mizoram's people.

Scindia is scheduled to attend the bankers' conclave before departing for Delhi on Tuesday, officials said. The conclave is expected to put the banking sector at the centre of financial inclusion and credit access efforts across the northeastern region.