Itanagar/Kohima : The North Eastern Council has allocated more than Rs 1,065 crore for infrastructure and development projects in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland during the 15th Finance Commission period (2022-26), with a focus on connectivity, tourism, agriculture and rural economic growth.

According to an official communiqué, Arunachal Pradesh received developmental support amounting to Rs 550.02 crore under the Scheme of NEC (SoNEC) and the NESIDS-Roads programme.

Of the total allocation, expenditure under SoNEC during the Finance Commission cycle stood at Rs 205.72 crore. The funds were utilised for infrastructure development, livelihood generation and socio-economic advancement, particularly in remote, border and aspirational districts of the state.

The projects prioritised agriculture and allied sectors through initiatives supporting horticulture, bamboo cultivation, fisheries, beekeeping, organic farming and value-addition activities aimed at improving rural livelihoods and income generation among tribal communities.

NEC-backed initiatives also strengthened tourism and eco-development by creating tourism infrastructure, viewpoints, riverfront facilities and electrification projects at tourist destinations to enhance Arunachal Pradesh’s eco-tourism potential.

Under the NESIDS-Roads programme, 10 road projects worth Rs 422.20 crore were sanctioned for Arunachal Pradesh, of which eight projects valued at Rs 162.13 crore have already been completed.

Among the completed works is the BRTF Road to Pidi in West Siang district, which has improved last-mile connectivity to remote tribal areas.

During 2025-26, several key infrastructure projects were sanctioned and completed, including a supermarket-cum-parking complex at Kharsang in Changlang district and the 16.5-km road from Kodum CO Headquarters to Bam Tri-junction in West Siang district.

Officials said the Kodum-Bam Tri-junction road is expected to improve connectivity for four villages with a combined population of over 1.12 lakh people and reduce travel distance between Itanagar and 10 administrative centres across West Siang, Shi Yomi and Siang districts by nearly 36 km.

The NEC also expanded youth outreach and scientific engagement programmes such as the Ashtalakshmi Youth Exchange Programme and NE-SPARKS during 2025-26. Under the initiative, 581 students from institutions across India visited premier educational institutions in the Northeast, including Rajiv Gandhi University.

Meanwhile, Nagaland received Rs 515.04 crore during the same Finance Commission period, with the NEC highlighting the state’s strong emphasis on value-chain development and industry-led economic growth.

Under NESIDS-Roads, nine projects worth Rs 309.20 crore were implemented in Nagaland, including five completed projects valued at Rs 231.79 crore.

One of the major completed projects is the upgradation of the road from Dikhu bridge to Amguri in Mokokchung district, improving access to areas regarded as the cultural heartland of the Ao Naga community.

In 2025-26, the NEC sanctioned four major projects in Nagaland worth over Rs 67.87 crore. The flagship initiative is the Cluster-Based Coffee Value Chain Development Project, described as the single largest state-specific project sanctioned in the Northeast during the year.

The project aims to strengthen coffee cultivation, processing, branding and marketing while building on Nagaland’s globally recognised Arabica coffee heritage.