Bogibeel rail-cum-road bridge over Brahmaputra and Rangiya-Murkongselek gauge conversion project and Azra-Byrnihat and Dimapur-Kohima new line projects have been declared as National Projects by Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav while presenting the budget for the forthcoming financial year. On the other hand, the budgetary allocation for the North Eastern States has been hiked from Rs 12,041 crore to Rs 14,365 crore. The amount also includes the Rs 1,380 crore provided to the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER). The new industrial policy for NER, with suitable fiscal incentives, will be in place before March 31. The total budget allocation in 2007-2008 for the NER, culled from allocations under different ministries and department has increased by Rs 2,324 crore over the last year.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram while presenting the budget for the next fiscal announced that the balance amount of the Special Accelerated Road Development Project – North East (SARDP-NE) would be awarded. Under the programme for SARDP-NE 450 km have been awarded last fiscal. Allocations for several of the organisations under Ministry DoNER has been hiked, with NEDFi earmarked Rs 60 crore, marking a quantum jump from Rs 31.48 crore. The North Eastern Council (NEC) has been sanctioned Rs 425.75 crore. However, grant-in-aid to Brahmaputra Board, protection of Majuli Island and Pagladiya Project has been slashed drastically.

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