Arunachal Pradesh is arguably India’s most picturesque, yet under-explored, hill destination. A major reason behind the low tourist footfalls has been the lack of connectivity. The recent connectivity-rush in the region may bring an end to this paradigm, paving the way for growth and investment opportunities.

A quick review of the progress of various connectivity projects will tell, the pace of implementation has never been so fast. Of the 35 projects undertaken by the National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) in the last six years, 11 achieved 99-100 percent physical progress.

Overall, more than half of the 737 km highway projects undertaken in Arunachal after July 2015 – when NHIDCL started functioning as the nodal agency for highway development in the region – are complete or near-complete.

This was possible due to close monitoring by the highways minister, Nitin Gadkari, and the Prime Minister’s Office. The model was replicated in implementing other connectivity projects.

In 2016, India upgraded a 1962 airstrip at Pasighat, in East Siang district in central Arunachal Pradesh. By 2018, Pasighat started operating commercial flights. Significantly enough this was the first-ever civil-commercial air service to Arunachal, since Independence in 1947.

In February 2019, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, laid the foundation stone of a greenfield civil airport at Hollongi, 14 km south of the capital city of Itanagar. The Rs 1000 crore airport will accommodate large-bodied aircraft. Construction is 60 percent complete. The airport is scheduled for inauguration in August 2022.

Notably, Itanagar airport was proposed as early as in 2007. However, it took the then government five long years to finalise the site. Preparation of the techno-feasibility report began after the Narendra Modi government came to power.

The connectivity rush in Northeast India and Arunachal Pradesh are far from over. As on June 30, NHIDCL is implementing highway projects worth Rs 92,237 crore ($12 billion). Projects worth another Rs 120268 crore ($16 billion) are in DPR (detailed project report) stage.

A total of Rs 3306 crore Highway projects are in the pipeline for Arunachal. The State will witness more activity in the coming days on the rail connectivity front.

As part of a two-decade old project to connect all capital cities in northeast India, train services reached Naharlagun, about 13 km short of Itanagar, in April 2014. The government has now focused attention on expanding rail connectivity in Arunachal.

The Rs 750-crore Murkongselek (Assam) and Pasighat rail project is already underway. Three more proposals are in different stages of consideration. These are: 378 km Bhalukpong (West Kameng, Arunachal)-Tenga (Arunachal)-Tawang (Arunachal); 247 km North Lakhimpur(Assam)-Bame (Arunachal)-Aalo (West Siang, Arunachal)-Silapathar (Dhemaji, Assam); and 227 km Pasighat (East Siang, Arunachal)-Tezu (Lohit, Arunachal)-Parshuram Kund (Lohit, Arunachal)-Rupai (Tinsukia, Assam).

Tawang is located at an altitude of over 10,000 ft, bordering Tibet, and is a major tourist attraction.

As in 2019, Arunachal was ranked at 30 among 37 States and Union Territories, in terms of domestic tourist arrival. Poor connectivity was a major hurdle to improve footfall, which in turn impacted the investment potential in hospitality and other quality travel infrastructure.

In the days to come, the State will be an ideal destination for investment in high-value tourist infra for value travellers.