In a major boost to road connectivity in the northeast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced Rs 90,000 crore for improving roads and national highways in the next two to three years.

"Over the next 2-3 years, an investment of about Rs 60,000 crore is proposed under the Special Accelerated Road Development Project (SARDP) in the Northeast and an investment of Rs 30,000 crore under Bharatmala is proposed for development of national highways in northeastern states," Modi said while addressing a BJP rally in Meghalaya.

Modi is on a day-long visit to the northeast where he dedicated to the nation a 271-km two-lane national highway connecting Tura in western Meghalaya and Shillong.

Before heading to Meghalaya, PM Modi visited Mizoram and said the Act East Policy of the BJP government would soon make the state the gateway to the South East Asian countries.

Both Mizoram and Meghalaya are set to witness Assembly elections early next year.

Modi, stating that poor connectivity was one of the biggest hurdles in the path of development of the north-eastern region, said his government had sanctioned over 3,800 kms of national highway, with an investment of Rs 32,000 crore, over the last three years.

Nearly 1,200 kms of roads had already been constructed, he added.

Talking of infrastructure schemes in the region, the prime minister said the Centre had launched the North East Special Infrastructure Scheme (NESIS) to fill in the gaps in the basic facilities.

"The new scheme has been designed after due consultations with the state governments. However, to ensure continuity, all the ongoing projects under the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) will be given funds for completion by March, 2022," he said, adding that the Centre would provide Rs 5,300 crore to the north-eastern states under the scheme over the next three years.

The PM also said the farmers in the northeast could now produce, transport and sell bamboo without any restrictions as the Centre had relaxed the bamboo restriction regime.

Modi added that bamboo, which was earlier classified as tree, was now classified as grass to enable its cultivation for commercial purposes.

Expressing optimism that Mizoram would continue to produce sportspersons who would excel on the world stage, Modi said, "The soft power of football can become Mizoram's global identity."

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