Assam: DoNER sets deadline for sanctioning PM-DevINE projects

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Barely nine months is to go for the period of the 15th Finance Commission. However, schemes amounting to around Rs 1,528 crore under PM-DevINE (Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region) have not yet been sanctioned. Now, the Ministry of DoNER (Development of North Eastern Region) lays emphasis on the sanction of new projects under PM-DevINE by March 31, 2026.

The total outlay for the Northeast under the PM-DevINE scheme was Rs 6,600 crore from fiscal years 2022-23 to 2025-26 that comes under the period of the 15th Finance Commission. In the event of the authorities concerned failing to sanction the new PM-DevINE projects within the stipulated time, i.e., March 31, 2026, the funds will be lapsed.

DoNER has approved as many as 38 projects under PM-DevINE with an approved cost of Rs 5,072 crore so far.

An office memorandum issued by DoNER on June 18, 2025, said, “The PM-DevINE scheme has a defined budgetary outlay for sanctioning new projects during the 15th Finance Commission period ending March 31, 2026, and hence, all new project proposals must be sanctioned by this deadline.” According to DoNER, only two of the 38 sanctioned projects have been completed so far. Significantly, both the completed projects are in Sikkim.

All five sanctioned projects of Assam have not been completed. The total approved cost of the five PM-DevINE projects in Assam is Rs 1437.62 crore, the highest among the northeastern states.

DoNER sanctions projects under PM-DevINE on the basis of project proposals it receives from the states of the Northeast. Before sanctioning such project proposals, DoNER consults the matters with NITI Aayog and other union ministries concerned.

Projects under the PM-DevINE scheme that aims to accelerate the development of the North Eastern Region of India are 100 per cent centrally funded ones.

Also Read: Utilization of DoNER funds jumps to 86.06% in FY 2024-25

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