’Aruchal can light up country’

PM flags off two Express trains from harlagun, calls to develop NE as ‘organic hub’

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITAGAR, February 20: In a historic development, Prime Minister rendra Modi Friday flagged off the first express train from harlagun in Aruchal Pradesh to New Delhi. The AC Express train was flagged off by the Prime Minister here through a remote control device. Clad in traditiol Nyishi attire, including Byopa (head gear), Pomo (jacket) and Zilang (Apatani shawl), the Prime Minister also flagged off the Intercity Express between harlagun and Guwahati, besides dedicating to the tion the 21.75 km long broad gauge railway track between harlagun and Harmuti in Lakhimpur district of Assam.

“Aruchal Pradesh is getting both ‘gati’ (momentum) and ‘urja’ (energy) today,” the Prime Minister said after flagging off both the trains and laying the foundation stone of the 132 KV power transmission and distribution system project, besides iugurating the Itagar Water Supply Project.

He emphasized that poor connectivity was the biggest reason for under–development in the Northeast, and these projects will contribute to improving connectivity.

“Ministers and senior officers of the Centre are working in close coordition with the Northeastern states to remove bottlenecks in development,” he added.

Referring to the immense hydropower potential of the State, the Prime Minister said that Aruchal Pradesh can provide electricity to the entire country and called for development of the State’s hydropower potential, simultaneously providing proper compensation to people who get displaced by hydropower projects.

Reiterating his government’s commitment, Modi announced several projects for the region, saying that the DoNER Ministry has already mooted a prospective plan ‘Make in NE’ for the region. FM radio services will also be expanded in the region, he said.

Addressing a mammoth gathering on the occasion of the 29th Statehood Day celebrations at Indira Gandhi Park here, the Prime Minister said that the Centre was contemplating to convert the Northeast into an ‘organic hub’ of the country, to boost agricultural and horticultural production and proposed to establish six new agriculture universities in the region.

He also praised the people of Aruchal Pradesh for their patriotic ture and for zealously guarding the easternmost frontier of the country.

“Aruchal is the only State in the country where people greet each other with ‘Jai Hind’, depicting their patriotic ture. The tradition created by the people here is an inspiration for the entire country,” the Prime Minister said, exhorting the people here to keep the tradition alive.