PM Modi Reaffirms Centre’s Commitment to Peace and Development in Manipur

Imphal- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday assured the people of Manipur that the Government of India will continue to stand by them and work tirelessly for lasting peace and prosperity in the border state.

Speaking at the Peace Ground in Churachandpur, where he laid the foundation stones for 19 development projects worth ?7,300 crore, the Prime Minister stressed that peace is essential for progress. He noted that dialogues have already begun with various ethnic groups, respecting all stakeholders, to restore harmony in the violence-hit state.

“I urge everyone to join hands with the government in restoring peace and ensuring development for the betterment of all, especially future generations,” PM Modi said.

Before the event, he visited relief camps housing thousands displaced by the 2023 violence. He reminded the gathering that many ethnic conflicts in the Northeast had been resolved through dialogue and expressed confidence that peace and development would gain further momentum in Manipur.

Highlighting infrastructure progress, the Prime Minister said that since 2014, the Centre had been working to address Manipur’s connectivity challenges. He cited major projects, including ?3,700 crore already spent on National Highways, ?8,700 crore worth of new road projects, and railway expansion worth ?22,000 crore connecting Imphal with the national network. Additional helicopter services from Imphal airport to remote areas were also announced.

PM Modi also spoke about rehabilitation efforts for displaced people, including the construction of over 7,000 homes, a ?3,000 crore special package, and an additional ?500 crore in aid.

Emphasizing tribal welfare, he said that the government prioritizes tribal development, with initiatives in more than 500 tribal villages, construction of 18 Eklavya Model Residential Schools, and projects focused on women’s empowerment.

Listing achievements, the Prime Minister said that under various housing schemes more than 60,000 homes had been built, thousands of families received electricity connections, over 1 lakh households benefited from free electricity, and piped water connections were provided to 3.5 lakh families. He also noted improvements in healthcare and education, with PM-DevINE supporting better medical facilities across five districts and over ?350 crore provided for free treatment.

Among the 19 projects launched were the Manipur Urban Roads, Drainage and Asset Management Improvement Project, the Manipur Infotech Development (MIND) project, upgrades to NH-102A, women’s hostels at nine sites, strengthening of 120 schools, and advanced healthcare facilities in remote districts.

Despite heavy rain, the Prime Minister chose to travel 61 km by road from Imphal to Churachandpur, where locals warmly greeted him with the national flag. Later in the day, he inaugurated infrastructure projects worth ?1,200 crore at Kangla Fort in Imphal and addressed a large public gathering.

With inputs from IANS