ITANAGAR, Mar 29: In a significant aid to ‘push’ the road towards development, the Centre has bestowed Arunachal Pradesh with an allocation of Rs 4,900 crore under the newly introduced ‘Pride of Hills’ component of the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) for the financial year 2026–27.
In this connection, Chief Minister Pema Khandu has acknowledged gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. This ‘special’ allotment intends at arresting the unique challenges of hilly terrain, limited revenue capacity, and infrastructural needs.
In a social media post, Khandu said: “I express my heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji and Hon’ble Union Finance Minister Smt @nsitharaman Ji for introducing the ‘Pride of Hills’ component under SASCI for 2026–27.”
Amplifying the rationale behind the move, the CM said: “This visionary initiative is a significant recognition of the unique challenges faced by hill states like Arunachal Pradesh, from difficult terrain and inaccessibility to limited revenue capacity, and reflects the Government’s deep commitment to inclusive and balanced regional development.”
Moreover, he went on to add, saying: “I am especially thankful for the allocation of Rs 4,900 crore to Arunachal Pradesh under this scheme. This substantial support will greatly strengthen our efforts towards infrastructure development, capital investment, and addressing critical fiscal needs.”