Connectivity for development (EDITORIAL)

Poor connectivity in the North Eastern region has been the major cause for region’s isolation from the rest part of the country. The Centre recently developed the 'HIRA' model to cap off the unsolved misery of poor connectivity for the region. 

HIRA- Highways, Internet way (I-way), Railways and Airways being the prime focus, need to be taken as a model also by the respective state governments of the region. 

State like Arunachal Pradesh with a challenging topography demands a well planned developmental structure to deal with the issue of connectivity. Despite various models of infrastructure development, the issue of reaching out to smaller towns in the far-flung areas of the state still persist.

The Capital Complex is not far from being affected by the setbacks of poor road connectivity. With monsoon approaching, the Trans Arunachal Highway work being carried needs to be expedited.   While taking up the road construction work,  sectoral roads need to be considered as well. The ongoing Itanagar-Naharlagun road construction need some acceleration keeping in mind that it's frequented daily by office goers and students.

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways's (MORTH) plan to upgrade more than 10,000 km of roads in the North East region through SARDP-NE is a welcome move. With a target year as 2021, 'Arunachal Pradesh Package of Roads and Highways', 2319 km of road construction has been approved by the Centre. Strategically significant, the landlocked state with international borders and defence establishments definitely needs Centre's attention. 

All in all the state has undoubtedly suffered due to lack of connectivity leading to communication bottlenecks. The focus should as such be on road infrastructure for rapid development. After all, swift road network is a parameter to measure economic development and with low density of proper roads in the state, development will remain a distant dream.