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Evolution of the Road Network in Northeast India: 1 Drivers and Brakes

2008; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 33; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/09700160802518635

1754-0054

Pushpita Das,

Bangladesh Politics, Society, and Development

Abstract Abstract The Northeast, strategically important yet economically underdeveloped, has been witnessing spurts of road building activities since independence. The need to establish connection with the rest of India following partition, the Chinese aggression, economic development, and trans-border connectivity are some of the main drivers which have been impelling the central government to construct roads in the region since independence. However, impediments such as terrain and climatic conditions, insurgency, and mismanagement of resources have also put brakes on the development of the road network in the region. The paper identifies the drivers and brakes, which have fashioned the evolution of the road network in the region and suggests some measures to overcome the hurdles. Notes 1. The Northeast region comprises Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. Sikkim, which is a late entrant to this region, is not included in this study. 2. Study on Natural Resources, Water and the Environment Nexus for Development and Growth of Northeast India, Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region, Government of India, New Delhi, June 26–27, 2006, p. 1. 3. Shibani Kinkar Chaube, Sunil Munsi, and Amalendu Guha, 'Regional Development and the National Question in the Northeast India', Social Scientist, 4(1), August 1975, p. 45. 4. Assam Development Report, State Plan Development, Planning Commission, Government of India, p. 106. 5. Annual Report 1949–1950, Ministry of Transport, Government of India, New Delhi, 1950, p. 34. 6. Ibid., p. 31. NH-31 connects Barhi in Bihar via Nawada, Mokama, Siliguri, Cooch Behar, with Jogighopa in Assam. 7. Annual Reports 1949–52, Ministry of Transport, Government of India, New Delhi. 8. Annual Report 1950–51, Ministry of Transport, Government of India, New Delhi, 1951, p. 9. 9. Ibid. 10. Annual Report 1959–60, Ministry of Transport, Government of India, New Delhi, 1960, p. 78. 11. Report of Study Team on Administration of Union Territories and North East Frontier Agency, Administrative Reform Commission, New Delhi, n.d., p. 42, as quoted in John W. Garver, 'The Territorial Dispute', in Protracted Contest, Sino-Indian Rivalry in the Twentieth Century, University of Washington Press, Seattle, 2001, p. 99. 12. Shibani Kinkar Chaube et al., n. 3. 13. Discussion with senior BSF official in New Delhi, April 21, 2008. 14. The Assam Accord of 1985, at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/assam/documents/papers/assam_accord_1985.htm (Accessed April 22, 2008). 15. Ibid. Also see Annual Report 2006–07, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi, 2007, p. 36. 16. Assam Development Report, n. 4. 17. 'Transforming the Northeast', High Level Commission Report to the Prime Minister, Planning Commission, Government of India, March 7, 1997. 18. New Initiatives for the North Eastern Region, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, at http://www.mha.nic.in/nedevrev.htm#New%20Initiatives (Accessed April 23, 2008). 19. The proposed highway would pass through Bomdi La, Nechipur, Seppa, Sagalee, Ziro, Daporijo, Along, Pashighat, Ring, Tezu, Mahadevpur, Namchik, Changlang, Khonsa, and Kanubari. See 'Arunachal is Our Land of Rising Sun', The Indian Express, New Delhi, February 1, 2008. Also see 'Subsidy Reaches Before PM Does', The Telegraph, New Delhi, February 1, 2008. 20. 'Trans Arunachal Highway (Arunachal Pradesh)', at http://www.mdoner.gov.in/writereaddata/sublinkimages/Arunachal_20086050922539.pdf (Accessed November 11, 2008). 21. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, at http://pmgsy.nic.in/ (Accessed May 21, 2008). 22. Arunachal Pradesh (779 km), 39 in Assam (626 km), 14 in Meghalaya (403.37 km), nine in Nagaland (547.77 km), six each in Mizoram (253 km) and Tripura (267 km), and three in Manipur (22.10 km). 23. 962 km in Assam, 687 km in Nagaland, 554 km in Mizoram, 542 km in Manipur, 277 km in Arunachal Pradesh, 267 km in Tripura, and 204 km in Meghalaya. 'North-Eastern Council Projects—Driving Growth in the North-East', The Hindu, March 25, 2002, at http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2002/03/25/stories/2002032500140600.htm (Accessed May 21, 2008). 24. 'DONER Ministry Blueprint to Aid Road Development', All Business, February 14, 2007, at http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-bodies-offices-regional/8824841-1.html (Accessed May 21, 2008). 25. C. Raja Mohan, 'Many Roads to Tibet Policy', Xinhua, August 3, 2006, at http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-08/03/content_4915074.htm (Accessed April 15, 2008). 26. 'China's Terrestrial Frontier Defense Infrastructure Takes Shape', People's Daily Online, August 5, 2004, at http://english.people.com.cn/200408/05/eng20040805_151936.html (Accessed April 18, 2008). 27. John W. Garver, 'Development of China's Overland Transportation Links', The China Quarterly, 185, March 2006, pp. 11–12. 28. 'China, Bangladesh, Myanmar Agree on Road Connectivity', July 31, 2006, at http://www.gov.cn/misc/2006-07/31/content_350132.htm (Accessed April 17, 2008). 29. 'Construction of Road along McMohan Line', August 14, 2003, at http://pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/lyr2003/raug2003/14082003/r1408200334.html (Accessed April 17, 2008). Also see 'China Developing Infrastructure along Border', newindpress.com, New Delhi, August 23, 2003, at http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEH20030814133632&Title=Top+Stories&rLink=0 (Accessed April 17, 2008). 30. 'China Next Door, Arunachal to Get Upgrade', The Indian Express, New Delhi, May 18, 2006. 31. There were allegedly over 140 intrusions into Indian territory in 2007. In 2008, until now reportedly 12 intrusions have taken place. See 'Since January 12 Intrusions by China', The Times of India, New Delhi, April 1, 2008. 32. 'India Puts China Border Roads on the Fast Track', The Indian Express, New Delhi, November 5, 2006. 33. 'Govt Puts China Border Road in Fast Lane', The Indian Express, New Delhi, March 2, 2008. 34. India had signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Thailand and ASEAN in 2004, and a Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement with Singapore in 2005. See 'Shared Integration', Report of the Asian Dialogue Society's Greater Asia Initiative, Information and Resource Center, Singapore, 2006, p. 5. Also see Harjit Singh, 'Push to India's Look East Policy: Three South East Asian PMs on Visit to India', News Behind the News, July 2, 2007, at http://news.indiamart.com/news-analysis/push-to-India-s-look-16088.html (Accessed April 12, 2008). 35. 'Shared Integration', Report of the Asian Dialogue Society's Greater Asia Initiative, Information and Resource Center, Singapore, 2006, p. 16. 36. Basic Statistics, North Eastern Council, 2005 as quoted in 'Development and Growth in Northeast India: The Natural Resources, Water and Environment Nexus', Strategy Report, South Asian Region, Social Sustainable Development Department, Environment Unit, World Bank, January 10, 2007, p. 64. 37. Road Development in the North-Eastern Region, Presentation by Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Department of Road Transport and Highways, Governmentof India, New Delhi, at http://www.morth.nic.in (Accessed April 2, 2008). 38. Annual Report 2006–07, n. 15, p. 29. 39. Ibid., p. 30. 40. Ibid. 41. Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East (SARDP-NE) Phase-A & B, Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, Government of India, at http://www.mdoner.gov.in/writereaddata/sublink2images/15784932080.htm (Accessed April 14, 2008). 42. 'The Sleeping Giant Waking Up', at http://indiaonestop.com/north_east_region/north_east_overview.htm (Accessed April 16, 2008). 43. Annual Report 2000–2001, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, 2001, p. 12. 44. 'Projects with Neighbouring Countries', Unstarred Question No. 3637, Lok Sabha Debates, March 3, 2003, at http://meaindia.nic.in/parliament/rs/2003/04/24rapr3637.htm (Accessed April 24, 2008). 45. 'Construction of Trans Border Road to Begin This Month', Khonumthung News Group, March 4, 2006. 46. 'Joint Press Statement on India-Myanmar-Thailand Ministerial Meeting on Transport Linkages', December 12, 2003, at http://mea.gov.in/declarestatement/2003/12/23js01.htm (Accessed April 15, 2008). 47. 'India Gains Bigger Foothold in Myanmar', India Business News, New Delhi, October 27, 2007, at http://www.iesingapore.gov.sg/wps/ (Accessed April 15, 2008). 48. The route A-1 enters India at Dawki and follows NH-40 though Dawki-Shillong-Nongpho up to Jorbat and then enters Assam and follows the NH-37 through Jorabat–Sonapur–Jagiroad–Dharamatul up to Nagoan. It then follows NH-36 through Nagoan–Dobaka–Amlakhi up to the Nagaland border. From Nagaland it follows NH-39 through Dimapur–Kohima–Imphal up to Moreh and then it enters Myanmar. See M. R. Kazi, 'Asian Highway and India's Northeast', The Assam Tribune, July 18, 2006. Also see 'About Asian Highway', at http://www.unescap.org/TTDW/index.asp?MenuName=AsianHighway (Accessed April 15, 2008). 49. 'Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project', at http://www.mdoner.gov.in/writereaddata/sublink2images/kaladam2553614958.htm (Accessed April 15, 2008). Also see 'Kaladan Project Key to North-East Progress', The Hindu, New Delhi, February 17, 2008; 'Centre Clears Rs. 535 cr Aid to Myanmar', The Assam Tribune, New Delhi, March 28, 2007. 50. The Stilwell Road, also known as the Ledo–Burma road, provides the shortest route to China, via Myanmar. The road has been traditionally used by the people of this region to carry out cross-border trade. During the Second World War, this route was rebuilt by Allied forces under US Army General Joseph Stilwell, to provide supplies to the beleaguered Chinese troops. This road is 1,726 km long and connects Ledo (Assam) to Kunming (China) through Pangsu pass in Myanmar. See Carin I. Fisher, 'The Stillwell Road: Straight Ahead', Himal Southasian, 18(2), September–October 2005, p. 72. 51. 'After Nathula, Stilwell Road Might be Next', The Times of India, Guwahati, August 22, 2006. 52. 'Center Not to Upgrade Stilwell Road', The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, April 24, 2008. 53. Dr. Altaf Jalil, Northeast India–Bangladesh Initiative Map, South Asia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF), Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, August 2004, p. 39. 54. Interview with administrative officials and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) at Itanagar, Tawang, and Tezu, January 10–24, 2006. 55. Annual Report 2006-07, n. 15. 56. Ibid., p. 16. 57. '2 cops, 4 Naxals Hurt in Encounter', The Times of India, Nagpur, June 4, 2007. 58. In house discussion with retired senior BRO official, New Delhi, May 3, 2008. 59. Speech of Zoramthanga, Chief Minister, Mizoram at 50th National Development Council Meeting, December 21, 2002, New Delhi, at http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/pl50ndc/mizoram.doc (Accessed May 21, 2008). 60. 'Killing Disrupts Work on Assam Highway', Yahoo News, May 15, 2008, at http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080515/india_nm/india335872 (Accessed May 21, 2008). 61. Observation made during field visit to Manipur and Tripura in February–March 2007. 62. '2 cops, 4 Naxals Hurt in Encounter', The Times of India, Nagpur, June 4, 2007.