Rs 3,200 crore stuck in Northeast projects; Assam tops unpaid list

NEW DELHI: Even as new roads, hospitals and schools are promised for the Northeast, more than Rs 3,200 crore meant for infrastructure projects in the region is still lying unspent — a reality check that surfaced in the Parliament on Thursday.

Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, minister of state for development of north eastern region Sukanta Majumdar said ongoing projects under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) carry an outstanding central liability of Rs 3,206.18 crore as of Dec 31, 2025. There are over 160 projects still under implementation.

State-wise figures show Assam topping the list with Rs 1,012.87 crore pending across 35 projects, followed by Manipur (Rs 441.38 crore), Nagaland (Rs 406.09 crore) and Arunachal Pradesh (Rs 395.37 crore). Other states with large unpaid amounts include Tripura (Rs 308.71 crore), Mizoram (Rs 275.81 crore), Meghalaya (Rs 258.05 crore) and Sikkim (Rs 107.90 crore).

Sector-wise, roads and bridges account for the biggest backlog of Rs 1,402.11 crore across 53 projects. Education projects have pending dues of Rs 774.55 crore, while Rs 317.87 crore is yet to be spent on health infrastructure. Power, water supply, sports, tourism, digital connectivity and civil aviation together make up the rest of the outstanding amount.

The govt also told the House that 30 projects — three under NESIDS (Roads) and 27 under NESIDS (Other Than Roads Infrastructure) — were sanctioned more than two years ago but still have over 50% of their approved cost unspent. Officials attributed the delays to tough terrain, land issues, statutory clearances and financial closures, saying timelines often depend on local conditions.

NESIDS was launched in 2017–18 and later split into two components — roads and other infrastructure — to support projects ranging from highways and bridges to schools, hospitals, water supply and solid waste management. States select projects based on local priorities, while fund allocation is guided by factors such as population, area, road density, hospital beds and access to drinking water.

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