Amidst chanting of incantations by tribal priests, the spanking new Donyi Polo airport, the first greenfield facility in Arunachal Pradesh, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, November 19, 2022
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The airport located at Hollongi, around 15 km from the State capital Itanagar, will link the border state with other Indian cities with commercial flights as well as other parts of Arunachal Pradesh through helicopter services.
Also read |All Northeast State capitals to have air, rail connectivity by 2024, says Amit Shah
The airport’s foundation stone was laid by Modi on February 2019.
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Hydropower project
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also dedicated the 600 MW Kameng hydropower project in the northeastern state’s West Kameng district to the nation.
The Kameng hydropower project has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 8,450 crore in an area spread over more than 80 sq km.
It is expected to make Arunachal Pradesh a power-surplus state and benefit the national grid in terms of stability and integration.
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The first greenfield ‘Donyi Polo’ Airport in Hollangi, Itanagar. | Photo Credit: PTI
“Connectivity and energy infrastructure will bring a new dawn of development for the northeastern region,” Modi said addressing the gathering at the airport.
The Prime Minister said that his government works 365 days, 24 by seven for the development of this country.
“Political commentators had claimed (in 2019) that the laying of the foundation stone for the airport was an election gimmick. But today when there are no elections due, we are launching this airport,” the Prime Minister said.
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Officials estimate that it will service some 20 lakh people in the region and help boost connectivity, trade and tourism.
“I work all day so that the country moves forward. We do not work for gaining an advantage in elections. This morning, I am in Arunachal Pradesh and in the evening, I will be in Gujarat on the other side of the country. In between, I will be in Varanasi,” Mr. Modi said in his address.
The Prime Minister also launched a coffee-table book on the central government’s regional connectivity scheme UDAN.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu were present on the occasion.