ITANAGAR, Oct 6: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday dedicated several major infrastructure projects developed under the Pasighat Smart City Mission, saying the transformation of the State’s oldest town reflects the wider development underway across Arunachal Pradesh.
Of the 43 projects taken up under the mission, 42 have been completed, Khandu said, adding that the remaining Sewage Treatment Plant is expected to be completed soon.
The Siang Riverfront Development, upgraded market area, Smart Guest House, District E-Library, Recreation Centre, Smart Roads, Solid Waste Management facilities and Integrated Command and Control Centre are among the major projects completed under the mission. The Chief Minister also inaugurated infrastructure at the Mebo Entry Gate.
Among the projects developed by Pasighat Smart City Development Corporation Limited, the Siang Riverfront Development, Smart Guest House and Recreation Centre are already being operated under revenue-generating models. Twenty-two completed projects have also been handed over to the Pasighat Municipal Council and other concerned departments and agencies for operation and maintenance, while the remaining completed projects are ready for handover.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Khandu recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Smart Cities Mission in 2015 to take urban development across the country to a new level. Pasighat was accorded Smart City status in June 2017 following sustained efforts by the state government, he said.
Khandu noted that Arunachal Pradesh is the only state in the Northeast with two Smart Cities—Pasighat and Itanagar—and expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister, the Union government and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for supporting the state's proposal.
The Chief Minister stressed that the newly created infrastructure must translate into better opportunities and an improved quality of life for citizens. He urged people to take ownership of public assets and ensure their proper upkeep.
“Government infrastructure is created for the public. It is public property, and maintaining it is also the responsibility of the public,” Khandu said.
Citing the upkeep of public infrastructure in Tawang as an example of community ownership, he expressed confidence that the people of the Adi community would demonstrate a similar sense of responsibility towards the newly created assets.
Linking Pasighat’s transformation with the larger development vision, Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh must contribute meaningfully to the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
“Viksit Bharat will happen only when Arunachal Pradesh is developed. Without Arunachal Pradesh, India cannot become Viksit Bharat,” he said, urging elected representatives, administrators and citizens to work towards building a Viksit Arunachal by 2047.
He said the state had already initiated the planning process for the vision and would further firm it up in consultation with stakeholders.
Khandu said the next phase of development should focus particularly on creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for youth, both educated and those in rural areas. He called for innovative approaches by MLAs, Councillors and Panchayat representatives to convert local resources and opportunities into viable economic activities.
Highlighting Siang’s tourism potential, he said the newly developed riverfront, along with improved road and communication infrastructure, could be leveraged to attract tourists and generate local employment. He suggested exploring innovative concepts such as mobile restaurants to create additional attractions and livelihood opportunities.
The Chief Minister also called upon officers to make greater use of convergence among Central and state schemes to maximise the impact of public expenditure.
He said the Smart City Mission itself demonstrated the potential of such convergence. Of the total project cost, around Rs 490 crore was provided by the Government of India, Rs 51.77 crore by the state government and Rs 3.94 crore mobilised through convergence funding.
“Convergence should not be one plus one equals two; it should be one plus one equals eleven,” Khandu said, urging officials to study various schemes and strategically combine them to create more infrastructure and employment opportunities.
He also identified agriculture, horticulture and allied sectors as important avenues for engaging youth, saying Arunachal’s fertile land and diverse resources offered considerable scope for entrepreneurship.