Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has declared the Arunachal Frontier Highway (AFH) a “game-changer” for India’s border infrastructure, with a massive investment of ₹42,000 crore. The announcement was made during Arunachal Pradesh’s 39th Statehood Day celebrations.
Rijiju emphasized that this is the highest allocation ever made by the Centre for a single project, aiming to strengthen border security and improve connectivity across 12 districts.
Key Features of the Arunachal Frontier Highway
- Length: 1,400 km, passing through critical areas near the India-China border
- New Infrastructure: 800 km of greenfield roads, tunnels, and bridges
- Major Locations Connected: Tawang, Upper Subansiri, Upper Siang, Dibang Valley, and Vijaynagar (near the India-Myanmar border)
- National Highway Status: Officially designated as NH-913
Government’s Vision for Arunachal Pradesh
- Governor Lt Gen (Retd) K T Parnaik highlighted the state’s progress in infrastructure and education, urging efforts to reduce school dropouts.
- CM Pema Khandu reassured that the new rules under the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA) 1978 are meant to safeguard indigenous culture, not target any religious group.
- The state government projects an annual revenue of ₹10,000 crore from power projects within the next decade.
Challenges and Government’s Appeal
🔸 Rijiju cautioned that land compensation claims and forest clearance issues could delay the project.
🔸 He urged local communities not to inflate land compensation demands and to support timely project execution.
A New Era for Arunachal Pradesh
With a historic investment and ambitious infrastructure projects, the Arunachal Frontier Highway is poised to boost economic growth, security, and regional development in the state.
