Ahead of what promises to be a landmark Union Budget 2024-25, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have made a compelling case to the Centre for substantial additional allocations towards infrastructure. The appeal highlights decades of neglect and the imperative for accelerated development in India’s gateway to Asia. Arunachal’s pitch focuses on strategic highways paralleling the Line of Actual Control (LAC), essential amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Projects like the Nechipu Tunnel and Dau-Dibang connectivity are flagged as priorities, with estimates pegged at over Rs 10,000 crore. Mizoram, meanwhile, seeks augmentation for urban infrastructure in Aizawl, including smart city elements and flood-resilient drainage. ‘Central aid is the catalyst our state economy needs,’ affirmed local policymakers, tying it to rising youth aspirations and migration pressures. These requests are channeled through formal pre-budget consultations hosted by NITI Aayog.
