Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu on Wednesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Act East” policy, saying it has redefined the state’s role from a mere border area to a strategic gateway and civilisational frontier of India.In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister on behalf of the people of Arunachal Pradesh, Khandu congratulated Modi on completing 12 continuous years in office, describing his tenure as an era of “transformative governance, visionary leadership and unprecedented development” that has altered the trajectory of the State and the entire Northeast.“Khandu said Arunachal, which shares international borders with Tibet (China), Bhutan and Myanmar and has over 1,080 km of international boundary, has emerged as a key pillar of India’s strategic and developmental vision under the Prime Minister’s leadership,” a statement from the CM’s office said.Highlighting infrastructure gains over the last 12 years, Khandu noted that national highway length in the State has risen from less than 1,000 km before 2014 to more than 4,060 km today. About 14,000 km of additional roads, including numerous bridges, are currently under construction, he added.Landmark projects such as the Trans-Arunachal Highway, Frontier Highway, Sela Tunnel and Nechiphu Tunnel have, he said, improved year-round connectivity to remote and forward areas, bolstering national security and economic integration. The CM credited the Bogibeel Bridge — inaugurated by the PM in December 2018 — with drastically reducing travel time to the State and bringing key markets such as Guwahati within five to six hours’ reach.Khandu also pointed to enhanced air connectivity, citing the operationalisation of Donyi Polo Airport and expanded services from Ziro, Tezu and Pasighat airports as moves that have brought Arunachal into the mainstream of national connectivity.Welcoming the Centre’s decision in the Union Budget 2026-27 to launch a dedicated scheme for developing Buddhist circuits across six Northeastern states, the CM said the initiative would strengthen conservation of monasteries, promote cultural heritage and boost tourism from India and abroad.On social and welfare schemes, Khandu said Arunachal has registered “transformative progress” under flagship programmes. Schools are being upgraded under the PM SHRI scheme and educational changes are being driven by the National Education Policy. Farmers are receiving direct income support under PM-KISAN while about two lakh families are covered under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana with health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh each, he added.Khandu mentioned the ongoing construction of the State Cancer Hospital at Itanagar with Centre’s support and said nearly 50,000 houses and toilets have been constructed in the State under PMAY and Swachh Bharat Mission. He asserted that piped drinking water has reached 100% of households under Jal Jeevan Mission and that Saubhagya has electrified all villages.The CM credited the PM’s focus on border development for accelerating the Vibrant Villages Programme, which aims to expand infrastructure, connectivity, banking services and livelihood opportunities in strategically important border villages such as Kibithoo, Tuting and Zemithang.Khandu highlighted Arunachal’s hydropower potential — estimated at over 58,000 MW — and said renewed policy attention has revived several long-pending projects. He noted the partially commissioned 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri project and said the 2,880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project — the country’s largest hydropower scheme — is slated for completion by February 2032.Recalling Union Cabinet approvals in 2024 and April 2026, Khandu said the Tato-I, Heo, Tato-II, Kamala and Kalai-II hydro projects together will add about 3.9 GW of capacity and attract roughly Rs 52,000 crore of investments into the state.He also praised governance reforms under the Centre, including Direct Benefit Transfer, transparent recruitment, digitisation and citizen-centric delivery, saying these have improved accountability and ease of living. Referring to the PM’s launch of the GST Bachat Utsav in Itanagar, the CM described it as another milestone in the reform journey.“Khandu said the Prime Minister’s greatest legacy lies not merely in physical infrastructure but in transforming lives, aspirations and opportunities across the country,” the statement added.–