To boost development in the region, the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has been allocated Rs 1,550 crore for infrastructure development of roads, bridges, power, irrigation, health, education, sports and drinking water supply.
Another Rs 170 crore has been earmarked for creating and upgrading infrastructure facilities especially in Arunachal Pradesh and other border areas in the northeast.
In addition Rs 60 crore as loans to the North East Development Finance Corporation (NEDFC), Rs 68 crore for the North East States Road Project (NESRP) and Rs.35 crore for the North Eastern Region Livelihood Project (NERLP) were allocated in the budget.
“We are happy with the measures the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has taken for the overall growth of various sectors, said RS Joshi, President, Federation of Industries in Northeast Region
The budget was well received in the northeast. The people are more or less satisfied and are looking forward to development of the region.
“This budget is good for common man, as the prices of important goods are being reduced laying no burden on common man,” said Manjit Bora.
“This budget is good for common man, poor people and farmers. We are happy that cost of mobile phones is being reduced as everyone uses it,” said Diganta.
Plan to set up a diesel locomotive centre in Manipur and to connect Imphal to Bangladesh through a rail network was also proposed during the budget. There are also plans to set up a rail network from Nagaland to Guwahati as well.