By Firstdespatch Desk Apr 23, 2026
Agartala, Apr 23 (FD) Large-scale public investment is reshaping development priorities across India’s North Eastern region, with fresh data highlighting a surge in infrastructure, social sector projects, and administrative efficiency during the 2025–26 financial year.
The North Eastern Council (NEC) reported total expenditure of ₹1,496.78 crore for the development of eight northeastern states. Of this, ₹792.12 crore was spent under core NEC schemes, while ₹704.66 crore was allocated to the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (Roads), focusing on connectivity and transport infrastructure.
A significant highlight of the fiscal year was the approval of 54 new projects with an outlay of ₹435.22 crore. These initiatives span key sectors such as higher education, healthcare infrastructure, agriculture, horticulture, tourism, industry, and cultural preservation. This marks the highest number of project approvals in a single year during the Fifteenth Finance Commission period.
Additionally, ₹24.06 crore was allocated for 162 non-project activities, including cultural festivals, seminars, workshops, and awareness programs. Overall, ₹459.28 crore in fresh allocations underscores a broad-based development approach.
Implementation progress has also been notable. A total of 136 projects were completed during the year at a cost of ₹678.85 crore, alongside 161 non-project programs worth ₹17.28 crore. This brings the total number of completed activities to 297 in 2025–26.
Under NESIDS-Roads, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region approved 64 road projects worth ₹3,037.39 crore during the Finance Commission period. Of these, 30 projects have been completed with an expenditure of ₹1,123.08 crore. Investments have enabled the construction of critical roads and bridges across major rivers in the region.
To ensure quality and timely execution, NEC officials conducted 405 field inspections throughout the year. These monitoring efforts contributed to improved project delivery and accountability.
Financial discipline also improved significantly. Committed liabilities dropped from ₹1,743.48 crore in April 2022 to ₹813.17 crore by March 2026, reflecting a reduction of over 53%. Pending utilization certificates saw a dramatic 97% decline within a year, falling from ₹440.82 crore in April 2025 to ₹10.94 crore by early 2026.
Officials credited coordinated efforts by state governments and implementing agencies, supported by strong leadership at the central level, for accelerating development across the northeastern states. FD SB