ITANAGAR, 17 Jul: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday said the state has witnessed significant economic growth, massive expansion in infrastructure and connectivity and marked improvement in education, healthcare and social welfare over the past decade, laying a strong foundation for its emergence as a developed and strategically important frontier state.
Interacting with reporters here to commemorate 10 years of his government, Khandu said the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has increased by nearly 149 per cent and the state budget by over 238 per cent.
“The state’s own resources have grown more than five-fold, while per capita income has more than doubled, making Arunachal one of the fastest-growing economies in the Northeast,” he claimed.
Highlighting the infrastructure push, the chief minister said annual road construction increased from around 300 km in 2016 to nearly 1,800 km, while the rural road network expanded more than three-fold. Over 4,000 km of national highways are currently under construction.
He added that the Donyi Polo Airport has emerged as a major aviation hub with expanded connectivity, cargo operations and daily Delhi flights, while more than 25 destinations are connected by helicopter services.
Over 2,600 new 4G towers have also improved digital connectivity in remote areas, he said.
Khandu said historic investments under the Frontier Highway and Vibrant Villages Programme are transforming border areas, with more than 1,000 km of roads being constructed to connect habitations.
Several previously inaccessible border villages now have all-weather connectivity, strengthening development as well as national security.
On education sector, he said Mission Shikshit Arunachal 2029 has been launched to transform school education and projects worth Rs 750 crore have been sanctioned for upgrading schools, hostels and related infrastructure.
Over 2,600 students from the state qualified NEET in 2025, while the scheme for academic excellence supports students aspiring to study at leading global universities. AI-enabled monitoring systems are also being introduced to improve learning outcomes.
The SEE Trinity initiative aims to create over 25,000 employment and self-employment opportunities for youth, he added.
Referring to the healthcare front, Khandu said a comprehensive Rs 3,666-crore expansion plan has been launched, while more than two lakh families receive cashless treatment under Chief Minister Arogya Arunachal Yojana (CMAAY) and PM-JAY.
MBBS seats at TRIHMS have doubled from 50 to 100, while new medical colleges are coming up in Pasighat, Namsai and West Kameng. A state cancer hospital and other specialised healthcare institutions are also under development, he said.
“Maternal and child health indicators have improved significantly, with a reduction in infant mortality and immunisation reaching near-universal levels,” the chief minister said.
On agriculture and horticulture, Khandu said more than 44,000 farmers have benefited from Atmanirbhar initiatives, while Arunachal has emerged as India’s leading organic kiwi-producing state.
The Agriculture and Horticulture Policies 2025-35 have been launched, while products including kiwi, oranges and pineapple are reaching global markets. Oil palm cultivation, natural farming and farmer producer organisations are also expanding.
The chief minister said installed hydropower capacity has increased more than three-fold and nearly 20 gwof new capacity is entering implementation.
“The government has declared 2025-35 as the ‘Decade of Hydropower’, with upcoming projects expected to create thousands of jobs and generate substantial revenue and free power for the state,” he said.
On investment and entrepreneurship, he said proposals worth over Rs 6,300 crore were signed during the Rising North East Investors Summit.
More than 2,300 entrepreneurs have been supported under the DDUSY and over 150 startups incubated, nearly half of them women-led, helping Arunachal earn national recognition as a leading startup ecosystem.
Khandu said APPSC infrastructure has been modernised to ensure transparent recruitment, while Cabinet Aapke Dwar and Sarkar Aapke Dwar have taken governance closer to the people.
AI, digital governance, land record digitisation, integrated financial systems and bottom-up planning are improving transparency and efficiency, he said.
Tourist arrivals have more than doubled during the decade, while the new tourism policy seeks to establish Arunachal as a premier adventure and ecotourism destination, the chief minister said, adding that the state has also hosted international sporting events, launched Mission Olympics and earned national recognition in tourism, startups, sanitation, power reforms and public administration.
Khandu said the next decade would focus on world-class education, universal quality healthcare, hydropower-led economic transformation, border infrastructure, youth employment, digital governance and sustainable development, with the goal of making Arunachal one of India’s most developed, prosperous and strategically important frontier states.
On the occasion, the chief minister released a series of special postal stamps depicting the state’s rich indigenous culture, festivals and GI-tagged products.
He also released a coffee-table book, Ten Years of People First Government, and The First Light Command, a book authored by senior advocate Tadup Tana Tara on the decade-long journey of the Khandu government.
Meanwhile, the state Cabinet on Friday unanimously passed a resolution marking the historic occasion of ‘Team Arunachal’ completing 10 years in office under the leadership of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
The Cabinet extended congratulations to the chief minister, and reaffirmed its collective commitment to peace, dignity, prosperity and development of the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Cabinet acknowledged the wholehearted and constant support of the Government of India in development of the Northeastern region, especially Arunachal, since 2014. It recorded that the past decade has brought a new dawn of hopes and aspirations for the state, guided by the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’ and the spirit of ‘Reform, Perform and Transform’.
Over the last 10 years, the state government has focused on fulfilling the aspirations of youths, women, farmers, students, elders and all citizens. The Cabinet highlighted initiatives for students, sportspersons, women’s self-help groups, entrepreneurship, skill development, startup support, handloom, handicrafts, agriculture, horticulture and tourism as important contributors to dignity, participation and prosperity.
The resolution noted that Arunachal has moved forward through major infrastructure and connectivity projects. It further emphasised that the state has moved from the era of strategic neglect to becoming an important part of India’s growth story. The Cabinet also reaffirmed its commitment to preserving Arunachal’s rich indigenous identity, culture, customs, languages, festivals, traditions and knowledge systems while pursuing the twin goals of ‘Vikas and Virasat’.
It appreciated the constructive support of public representatives, government officials, media personnel and citizens whose collective efforts have strengthened governance and implementation across the state.
The Cabinet, reaffirming the vision of building a Viksit Arunachal by 2047, pledged to continue working with unity, discipline, dedication, innovation and empathy. The resolution concluded with the commitment to build an Arunachal that is ‘Sundar, Swachh, Surakshit, Shikshit, Swasth and Samridh’. (PTI, with input from CM’s PR Cell)