Rs. 28,000 cr for rail projects in NE

PM sanctions `5,000 cr for 2G mobile coverage in the region

Kohima: In a development package for the Northeast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today promised to provide Rs 28,000 crore for laying new railway lines and announced sanctioning of Rs 5,000 crore for 2G mobile coverage in the region.

Wrapping up his three-day visit to the region, Modi also dedicated to the country a Rs 10,000-crore 750MW Palatana power project, an ONGC-Tripura government joint venture considered the biggest power plant in the region.

On the last day of his three-day visit to the region, the Prime Minister said in Kohima that the Centre has earmarked Rs 53,000 crore in the budget for the development of the Northeast and would focus on developing the "untapped" tourism potential of the region and laying of new railway lines for the purpose. "So many tourists are coming here from other parts of the country and abroad. This is the best destination for tourists. But for that, we require connectivity.

Unless we have road connectivity, rail connectivity, air connectivity, it is very difficult to develop tourism," Modi said.

"For the development of of tourism, Rs 28,000 crore will be provided for a new railway-line project and 14 new railway lines," he said while inaugurating Nagaland's biggest annual Hornbill festival in Kohima.

In a lighter vein, Modi said as other places of the country have SEZs (Special Economic Zone), which are man-made, the Northeast has NEZ (Natural Economic Zone).