PM Narendra Modi to address North Eastern Council's plenary session in Shillong

GUWAHATI: What is expected to fast track development projects in the eight North-eastern states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 65th Plenary session of regional planning body North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong on Friday.

This is Modi’s maiden visit to Shillong after becoming Prime minister.

Regional planning body NEC is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the region and comprises eight states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

Governor’s and Chief Ministers of the Northeastern states will attend the meeting. On Tuesday Modi was in Guwahati to attend the swearing ceremony of Assam's new Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal.

The session will focus on all-round developmental plans for the Northeastern region.

In various technical sessions, discussion will be made on the developmental projects related to livelihood, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, connectivity.

There will be deliberations on North East – Organic Capital of the Country, North Eastern Road Sector Development Scheme (upgradation and maintenance of orphan roads, inter-state roads etc), assistance for procurement of agri and horticulture produce including medicinal plants to give remunerative price to farmers to be implemented by Central/state agencies, extension of runways at Umroi Airport, Shillong, Northeast Tourism Development Council, Partial assistance to sates / NGOs for setting up of an iconic skill centre infrastructure for youths in collaboration with NABARD and Act East Secretariat in NEC in collaboration with IIM, Shillong.

Modi will also electronically inaugurate Kamakhya-Katra weekly train.