In a landmark event held today in Aizawl, Mizoram, the transfer of Assam Rifles Battalion land to the Government of Mizoram took place in the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah. This significant ceremony marked the formal exchange of maps, signifying a pivotal moment in Mizoram’s development trajectory. The event was graced by several dignitaries, including Mizoram Chief Minister Shri Lalduhoma, the Union Home Secretary, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, and the Director General of Assam Rifles.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the event as a monumental milestone, highlighting that for nearly 35 years, there has been a long-standing demand to relocate the Assam Rifles to interior areas. This move, he explained, is crucial due to the space constraints caused by the region’s topography, which has hindered the overall development of Mizoram, including its capital, Aizawl. The acute shortage of space in Aizawl has been a significant barrier to the city’s modernisation and the expansion of public facilities. Shah credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decisive action for fulfilling this decades-old demand, emphasizing that this decision is not just an administrative move but a testament to the Modi government’s commitment to the people of Mizoram and the state’s progress.
Shah noted that this decision will make a large area of land available in a key region of Mizoram, providing a new direction for the state’s development. He regarded this as the most significant decision in the history of Mizoram since the establishment of the first army camp in Aizawl in 1890. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India has been actively working for the past 10 years to strengthen and integrate the entire North-East region. Shah highlighted that the Modi government is driving unprecedented development in the region, spanning sectors from tourism to technology, sports to space, and agriculture to entrepreneurship.
Shah pointed out that from independence until 2014, all previous Prime Ministers collectively visited the North-East 21 times, whereas since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi alone has made 78 visits. Additionally, he noted that before 2014, Union Ministers, apart from those from the North-East, had visited the region only 71 times, whereas in the past decade, the number of visits by Union Ministers has exceeded 700.
Union Home Minister stated that while development is progressing in the North-East, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also established unprecedented peace in the region. He highlighted several major infrastructure projects in Mizoram, including Package-1 and Package-3 of National Highway 502-A, initiated at a cost of ₹2,500 crore. Additionally, a four-lane road is being constructed on National Highway 6 in Aizawl and Kolasib districts at a cost of ₹1,742 crore, while the doubling of Aizawl-Tuipang National Highway 54 is underway with an investment of ₹1,600 crore. Furthermore, bamboo link roads worth ₹100 crore have been developed in various parts of Mizoram. Shri Shah also mentioned the construction of 10 helipads at a cost of ₹2 crore and the completion of the Bairabi-Sairang Railway project with an investment of ₹5,000 crore. He noted that a 164-bed super specialty research center is currently being built at a cost of ₹600 crore, and the Tuirial Hydro Power Project has been launched with an investment of ₹1,300 crore. To enhance digital connectivity, 214 mobile towers have been installed across the state. He reiterated that the Government of India remains fully committed to ensuring a developed, peaceful, secure, and beautiful Mizoram.
