Union Minister Scindia Calls for Development of World-Class Tourist Circuits in North Eastern Region

New Delhi, October 28: Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia has emphasized the creation of world-class tourist circuits across the North Eastern Region (NER) to harness the region’s vast tourism potential and promote cross-border connectivity.

Participating in three High-Level Task Force (HLTF) meetings held on October 27, Scindia said the government aims to position the North East as a hub of sustainable tourism, organic agriculture, and regional trade by fostering inter-state collaboration and policy alignment. The task forces were formed following a consensus at the 72nd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Agartala in December 2024.

At the HLTF on Tourism, chaired by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and attended by Union Tourism & Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, as well as the Chief Ministers of Tripura and Sikkim, Scindia called for a bottom-up approach in tourism planning. He proposed that the region adopt a unified vision to attract both domestic and international tourists, including from neighbouring countries. Shekhawat, in turn, highlighted the Ministry of Tourism’s efforts in infrastructure development and promotional activities across the North East, calling tourism a “key driver of regional economic growth.”

At the HLTF on the North East Economic Corridor, chaired by Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Lalduhoma, discussions focused on enhancing connectivity through roads, railways, inland waterways, and digital networks. Scindia appreciated the roadmap presented and urged Mizoram to finalize the report incorporating feedback from member states.

In the HLTF on Agriculture and Horticulture, chaired by Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, representatives from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tripura discussed strategies for value addition, branding of organic produce, and strengthening market linkages. Scindia emphasized value creation and long-term sustainability, calling for integrated cold-chain infrastructure and cluster-based cultivation to boost farmers’ incomes.

The Union Minister said the coordinated work of the eight task forces will transform the North East into an integrated development corridor. “We are moving from fragmented planning to a regionally synergized model of growth where connectivity, culture, and commerce come together,” Scindia noted, reaffirming the government’s commitment to a prosperous and connected North East.