The Itanagar Capital administration holding a meeting with stakeholders regarding introduction of freight trains to Naharlagun railway station, is a harbinger of good news. Arunachal is completely dependent on roadways for the transportation of goods which greatly affects the prices in the state’s markets. A product doubles at times quadruples as compared to Assam due to the additional costs of transportation. The common man here ends up shelling money for goods at inflated prices.
The introduction of freight trains must be seriously pursued by the administration with the Railway Authority because passenger trains are already operational in the state. Freight trains will not only cut down cost of transportation but it will also ensure faster delivery of goods. Without a doubt, it will enhance the state’s commerce and connectivity as goods from here will reach all parts of the country.
Isolation plus high transaction costs has resulted in low growth for the Northeastern region. Major challenges to connectivity are the region’s hilly terrain, limited number of airports, scarcity of skilled and unskilled labour, climatic conditions such as floods and landslides in monsoons, laws pertaining to land acquisition and transfer, and the states themselves being landlocked. Transporting goods cost higher in the Northeast than the rest of India on account of the often-impenetrable terrain and insufficient connectivity.
However, railway connectivity has accelerated in the Northeast Region, especially considering the capitals of the Northeastern states being connected by rail with the rest of India. 
More than 90% of Northeast India’s borders form the nation’s international boundaries: on one hand, with South Asian countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, and with growing Southeast and East Asian economies such as Myanmar and China on the other. The strategic location and historic links of the Northeast can be leveraged as a base for India’s growing international economic links. It is time that the nation takes a long-term view of the supply chain needs of the Northeast states and follows it up with immediate action on the ground.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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