Tawang: A proposed highway through the historic Stillwell road connecting Arunchal Pradesh with South East Asian countries is being pursued with the Centre, Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said on Saturday.
Speaking at the inaugural function of the second edition of three-day International Tourism Mart, the Chief Minister said the highway will herald growth of international trade and tourism and be a harbinger of bilateral relations among the nations of South East Asia and North East India.
This in turn would serve to end the insurgency menace, mushrooming of youth organisations and avoidable crimes in the region for lack of socio-economic development, he said.
Air services to the land-locked state would improve considerably with the operationalisation of seven airfields being upgraded by the Indian Air Force at Ziro, Tezu, Pasighat, Mechuka, Anini, Wallong and Tuting, he said.
He pointed out that the Gopinath Bordoloi Airport at Guwahati has been made an international airport to air-link most South East Asian countries to give an impetus to the tourism industry.
Besides this, the Harmuti-Itanagar railway line is nearing completion while construction of a greenfield airport at Itanagar would be started soon to improve air connective, he said.
Organised by the Union Ministry of Tourism with the Northeastern states, the international mart would highlight the tourism potential of the region in the domestic and international markets.
Stating that the Northeast has been referred to as ‘the Paradise Unexplored’, the chief minister said “Northeast India has a lot to offer to any tourist visiting this part of the country.” “You came as strangers, but must leave as friends and forge a lasting partnership with the representatives of the travel industry of Northeast India in generating good business for the region,” the CM said in an appeal to delegates. (PTI)