Arunachal Pradesh has recorded significant growth in its economy and infrastructure over the past decade, with the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) rising by nearly 149 per cent and annual road construction increasing six-fold, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said on Wednesday.
Addressing the concluding day of a special session of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in the presence of Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan, Khandu said the state’s GSDP had increased from around Rs 20,373 crore in 2016 to more than Rs 50,651 crore.
He said the state budget had grown by more than 238 per cent during the period, while per capita income had more than doubled. The state’s own resources had also increased by more than five-and-a-half times, which, according to the Chief Minister, reflected the strengthening of Arunachal Pradesh’s economy.
Khandu also highlighted the expansion of the state’s road network. Annual road construction, he said, had increased from around 300 km to 1,800 km.
The rural road network has expanded from 4,131 km to nearly 14,000 km, while the length of the national highway network has increased from 1,043 km to 2,538 km. Another 4,060 km of roads are currently at various stages of construction, he said.
“Better roads, tunnels, railways, air connectivity and digital infrastructure are reducing distances and opening new opportunities for our people,” Khandu said.
The Chief Minister pointed to the Trans-Arunachal Highway, Sela Tunnel, Donyi Polo Airport, advanced landing grounds and the Frontier Highway as some of the major infrastructure projects that have contributed to the state’s changing connectivity and economic landscape.
Khandu credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the Centre’s continued focus on the Northeast for the progress. He said Modi had visited Arunachal Pradesh several times since 2014 and added that frequent visits by Union ministers had strengthened the Centre’s engagement with the state and the wider region.
Looking ahead, Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh had considerable potential in sectors such as hydropower, tourism, agriculture and horticulture. These sectors, he said, could contribute to economic growth while creating more employment and livelihood opportunities for the people.
At the same time, the Chief Minister stressed that development should remain in harmony with the environment. He described the state’s forests, rivers and mountains as an integral part of its identity and way of life.
He also underlined the importance of protecting indigenous culture and traditions amid rapid modernisation. Under the government’s vision of “Vikas, Sewa and Virasat”, Khandu said economic development would have to be balanced with social responsibility and the preservation of the state’s indigenous heritage.
