Connectivity in Northeast India is surging ahead on new path of development

One of the top agendas of Central government is improving India's North Eastern region's connectivity with the mainland, as the region has immense potentialities to strengthen business ties with the Southeast Asian countries.

Recently, in a major push to develop the air connectivity in the region, SpiceJet launched a direct flight from Dibrugarh to Guwahati as a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik' (UDAAN) scheme.

Deployment of aircrafts, small choppers also formed an essential part of development in the connectivity sector.

PM Modi's vision of India's Act East Policy is turning successful with its steady implementation in the North East. The Central Government is leaving no stone unturned to make the region emerge as important hub in the nation's engagement with South East Asian countries.

Focusing on Northeast's role in paving a gateway to South East Asia, various schemes and multifaceted projects have been introduced in the recent past to facilitate the growth in railways, roadways, telecom sectors and others.

Talking about the development of connectivity, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, "We need connectivity for development and that is the reason PM Modi implemented the Act East Policy to connect northeast to South East Asia and because of his blessings this has become a reality. Every terrain and hilly areas or river that was not connected earlier will get connected with the mainland now."

This is for the first time in the history of Indian aviation that SpiceJet is also exploring opportunities to order amphibious aircraft from Japanese aircraft-maker Tsuneishi group. The announcement about the same was officially made at an event held at the Guwahati airport.

While speaking to ANI, Ajay Singh, Chairman and MD of SpiceJet said, "Spicejet believes that North-East, and especially Guwahati, is the second home for our airline. It is a place where we expect to build large space for our regional aircraft. We will ensure that by using the planes that you will see today the core of connectivity will be greatly enhanced in Northeast and in different parts of the country. This planes has no boundaries there is no specific place that you can refer to, you can just about connect any place at all."

In the meantime, Assam Government is ensuring all possible help to SpiceJet for the successful and smooth functioning of the Japanese aircraft.