Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that the Northeast, once considered distant from the country’s development mainstream, is now playing a central role in India’s growth trajectory and is emerging as a key pillar in the vision of a developed India by 2047.
In a post on social media platform X, Sarma said the region, often referred to as “Ashtalakshmi” for its eight states, is scripting a new development story under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He wrote that once considered far from the mainstream of development, the Northeast was today writing the development story of New India as “Ashtalakshmi”.
He added that under the leadership of PM Modi, the path to Viksit Bharat 2047 passed through the Northeast and that in the coming decade, the region would drive India’s development journey. The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid the Centre’s continued focus on infrastructure expansion, connectivity projects and economic integration across the Northeastern states.
Since 2014, the region has witnessed significant investments in roads, railways, airports, waterways and digital connectivity. Several major projects, including national highways, railway line expansions, border infrastructure and new air routes, have been undertaken to improve connectivity between the Northeast and the rest of the country.
The Centre has also prioritised sectors such as tourism, agriculture, trade, logistics and renewable energy in the region, while promoting the Northeast as a gateway to Southeast Asia under India’s Act East Policy. Sarma has frequently highlighted the transformation witnessed in Assam and other Northeastern states over the past decade, attributing it to sustained policy support from the Central government.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led governments at both the Centre and in several Northeastern states have repeatedly described the region as a strategic growth engine for India, stressing that its economic potential, natural resources and geographic location will play a crucial role in achieving the goals outlined under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.