Arunachal deputy CM tables budget, focus on infra & hydropower

Itanagar: Deputy CM Chowna Mein on Tuesday presented Arunachal Pradesh’s budget for 2026-27, outlining a development agenda centred on infrastructure, hydropower, entrepreneurship and welfare, while stressing fiscal discipline.

Presenting his 12th consecutive budget, Mein said the govt remained committed to building a “Viksit Arunachal” through sustained growth, stronger governance and inclusive development.

He said the state’s GSDP had grown nearly 135% over the past decade, the budget size had expanded by 226%, per capita income had more than doubled, and own resources had risen by 460%.




The budget is built around six focus areas: foundational infrastructure, people-centric development, sustained growth, entrepreneurship and jobs, resource mobilisation and fiscal stability, and governance reforms.

A major thrust has been placed on connectivity, with the government targeting completion of 87 township roads in 2026-27. Work is in progress on the Naharlagun–Hollongi Airport road, while ₹90 crore has been earmarked for an Aerocity near Donyi Polo Airport to position Itanagar as a hub for tourism and trade. The government is also exploring monorail and ropeway systems for the capital region.

Mein underscored Arunachal Pradesh’s hydropower potential of 58,000 MW and said the state planned to commission 19 GW of capacity between 2025 and 2035, with investments of ₹1.9 lakh crore. The Subansiri Lower project is expected to be fully commissioned by December 2026, while the Dibang project is targeted for 2032.

The state expects monetised free power worth ₹4,520 crore over the next decade and ₹4,100 crore annually thereafter.

In healthcare, the budget provides for new district hospitals at Tato and Nafra, expansion of trauma care, digital health infrastructure and a ₹217-crore cancer hospital at Midpu.

In education, Mission Shikshit Arunachal 2029 will include a ₹500-crore Golden Jubilee School Programme, local language textbooks, AVGC labs and a Japanese language centre.

The budget also proposes expansion in agriculture and tourism, including oil palm, kiwi, avocado and passion fruit cultivation, support for dairy and fisheries, Buddhist circuits and a World War II heritage museum.

For employment generation, the ARUN MSME Mission will support 500 enterprises annually, alongside start-up promotion.

Mein said the budget reflected a long-term vision of a strong, inclusive and future-ready Arunachal by 2047, aligning growth with welfare and sustainability.