Arunachal Pradesh’s Leap Towards Advancement
Arunachal Pradesh has captivated the attention of tourists and researchers alike with its picturesque landscape, snow-capped mountains, lush green forests and crystal-clear rivers. However, the natural splendour of the state is not the end of it. Rather, Arunachal Pradesh is making its mark in several other sectors encompassing the development of the region, and laying the foundation for a more promising future.
Advancing Road Connectivity
One of the recent notable achievements in the state is the completion of the Roing-Hunli-Anini road in the Dibang Valley district. This is a big boost to the last-mile development in the region.
Road connectivity is essential for promoting economic growth and improving the quality of life for its people. In the last seven years, Arunachal Pradesh has seen a 65% increase in road density, 64% increase in road length, and the construction of roads measuring 19,863 km. Adding on to the connectivity infrastructure projects, the Arunachal Frontier Highway and Trans-Arunachal Highway have been commissioned, and there has been a 138% increase in the length of national highways, out of which 2,482 km of national highways have been constructed in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
Another 2,857 km of national highways in the state will be newly constructed, for which the Government has allocated Rs 44,000 crore.
It is important to note that the construction of roads in the rocky terrains of Arunachal Pradesh at a hilly altitude is an extremely challenging task. Despite the challenging circumstances of a once land-locked region, the Govt of Arunachal Pradesh led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu ji has been able to overcome these barriers to a large extent. It is due to the constant support extended by the Govt for the numerous road connectivity projects in the state, the quality of connectivity within Arunachal Pradesh has significantly improved, and access to remote as well as border areas have been successfully established.
Farmer Empowerment
The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has also been empowering farmers through agro-meteorological advisory services in changing climate. The first-ever farmer awareness program was organized at Itanagar on 14th July 2023, in the presence of Minister of Earth Science Kiren Rijiju ji, which aimed to enhance the capacity of farmers and make them self-reliant. Empowering farmers through such services is anticipated to enhance their income-generating avenues and benefit the state’s agricultural sector.
Fostering a Startup Ecosystem
Moving ahead, Arunachal Pradesh is rapidly developing a startup ecosystem with the help of the Arunachal Pradesh Innovation and Investment Park (APIIP). The APIIP’s mission is to empower startups and transform entrepreneurs into visionaries, providing them with a dynamic ecosystem and infrastructure driving success. The APIIP provides co-working spaces, incubation centres, mentorship for startups, and investment facilitation centres. This is a great initiative by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh to generate jobs as well as self-employment opportunities, and also encourage the youths to become job givers rather than job seekers.
Promoting indigenous commodities
Apart from economic development, Arunachal Pradesh is also known for its natural resources and cultural diversity. The state has recently achieved a remarkable accomplishment as two of its indigenous commodities, Khaw Tai – Khamti rice (of Namsai district), and Yak milk product – Yak Churpi (of West Kameng district), have been tagged in the GI food products list of the Government of India. This achievement not only fosters pride and appreciation for the state’s rich biodiversity but also promotes economic growth through the branding of these products.
Strengthening Air Connectivity
The region has also made significant investments in improving its air connectivity, which has bridged distances by connecting people and cultures, boosted tourism, facilitated trade, and fostered cooperation. Apart from the Greenfield Donyi Polo Airport at Hollongi, Itanagar (Arunachal’s first full-fledged Airport launched in November 2022), the state has operational airports at Pasighat, Tezu, and Ziro, and seven advanced landing grounds at Vijoynagar, Walong, Tuting, Ziro, Aalo, Pasighat, and Mechukha. Additionally, 25 helipads are currently operational, and 2 Dornier aircraft are leased for earmarked operations. The state has also been awarded the ‘Best Emerging State in Aviation Sector’ in the Wings India-2022 Conference.
Uplifting Sports Infrastructure
Last but not least, investing in sports infrastructure is another area where Arunachal Pradesh has made significant progress. The state has 20 multipurpose indoor sports halls, a 15,000-capacity Golden Jubilee Outdoor Stadium, seven new national-level stadiums, a 20,700 sq.m DK Badminton Academy with 14 two-hall badminton courts, and a National Centre for Sports Science Research (one out of six in India). In addition, the Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy has been declared as the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence for Archery, Judo, and Weightlifting.
In recent years, Arunachal Pradesh has achieved impressive strides in a number of areas, including infrastructural development, aviation connectivity, sports infrastructure and more. The state has also made significant progress in sustainable development, such as empowering farmers through agro-meteorological advisory services and encouraging the use of renewable energy sources. Arunachal Pradesh is indeed a region of boundless opportunity, and with ongoing assistance and funding, it has the ability to serve as a national role model for sustainable development.
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