Modi inaugurates Arunachal Pradesh's first greenfield airport

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (19) inaugurated Arunachal Pradesh's first greenfield airport Donyi Polo in capital Itanagar and said that the government is dedicated to serving the north-east sector.

"The government is dedicated to serving the North-east sector, a separate ministry administers the jurisdictional requirements of NER (North Eastern Region)," Modi said, adding, "From culture to agriculture, from commerce to connectivity, the development of North-East has become our top priority."

Speaking at the inauguration event, the prime minister said, "You know that we have brought a work culture where we inaugurate the projects of which we have laid the foundation stone. The era of 'atkana, latkana, bhatkana' (dilly-dallying) is gone."

In his address, he said that a gathering of such a huge crowd is a result of the efficient implementation of government policies in the state.

"The gathering of such a huge crowd with such a festive feel so early in the morning, is the result of implementing all government policies efficiently and on time," Modi added.

Lauding the government for the timely completion of the project the prime minister pointed out that hindrance, pendency and diversion were not aspects of his government.

"We have ensured on-time completion of all the undertaken development projects. Hindrance, pendency and diversion are not aspects of the government," Modi said.

The prime minister also said that when he laid the foundation stone of the airport in 2019, political commentators were dismissive of the airport being completed and said it was just a poll gimmick.

"When I laid its foundation stone in 2019, polls were about to be held. Political commentators made a noise that the airport isn't going to be built and that Modi is erecting a stone due to poll. Today's inauguration is a slap on their faces," he said.

With the inauguration of the first greenfield airport, Modi said the north-east is witnessing a dawn of new hopes and opportunities.

"Today northeast is witnessing a dawn of new hopes and opportunities. Today's event is a great example of New India's approach towards development," he said.

Modi added that the Donyi Polo Airport is the fourth operational airport of Arunachal Pradesh.

"Donyi Polo Airport is the 4th operational airport of Arunachal Pradesh. Within 8 years, the government has constructed seven new airports which have improved connectivity," he said.

Modi also heaped praises on the government of former Bharatiya Janata Party prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee which he said had made efforts to form a separate ministry for the development of the north east region.

"After Independence, the northeast became witness to a different era. For decades, the region remained a victim of negligence...When Atal Ji's government came, for the first time efforts were made to change this. It was the 1st govt that made a separate ministry for northeast development," he said.