President Murmu stresses on need for better border infrastructure

Murmu also spoke on the need to empower women, and said society cannot develop without their being given a leading role

President Droupadi Murmu on February 20 stressed on the need to build better infrastructure in the strategically located Arunachal Pradesh given that it shares borders with three countries.

Speaking on the occassion of the northeastern State's 37th Statehood Day, Ms. Murmu said she was "happy to note" that several ambitious infrastructure projects were being taken up in Arunachal, which is also geographically, the largest State.

Both India and China have been building a network of roads, bridges, tunnels, dams and airports to connect the border areas of Arunachal and eastern Tibet respectively. Troops from the two Asian giants have also had face-offs with each other in border areas in the recent past.

“For economic development and from security point of view the State needs to have better infrastructure. I am happy to know that the Centre has sanctioned the ₹40,000 crore ambitious Frontier Highway project for the State. Moreover, for development of national highways projects worth over ₹44,000 crore have been proposed in the State,” the President pointed out.

She added that the 600 mw Kameng hydro project in West Siang district inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra in November last year would make Arunachal a power surplus State in the country.

“With the inauguration of the State’s first green field airport — Donyi Polo Airport, air connectivity and trade potential will receive a major boost,” Ms. Murmu said.

The President, who also laid the foundation stone of a 40-km long double-lane road from Donyi Polo Airport to Naharlagun railway station on the occasion, said that the new road would ease travel for people.