Remote access

Even as Sikkim and Darjeeling reel from Sunday’s powerful earthquake,the government’s capacity to rush assistance there is hampered by the fact that many roads have been washed away,others blocked by landslides.

We urgently need to build an extensive road,rail and air connection to this region,if we are to meaningfully integrate it with the rest of the country. The northeastern states and north Bengal are connected to the rest of India by a slender neck of land,the Siliguri corridor. And it literally stretches out the time taken to transport goods and people to and from there,because all movement has to snake around Bangladesh. If India could hammer out an understanding with Bangladesh for direct access,the distance would be one-fifth of the current system,and would radically enlarge the northeastern states’ access to the rest of the country and vice versa. The prime minister’s recent visit to Dhaka laid great emphasis on this project,one that would also consolidate trade links with Bangladesh. He has repeatedly voiced his commitment to improving connectivity and border infrastructure,but these plans must materialise soon,given the human,economic and geopolitical imperative to do so.

Manipur,for instance,situated right at the end of the two highways to the region (NH 39 and NH 53),can be effectively sealed off by road blockades,as has recently happened. Arunachal Pradesh blips on the national radar because of China’s assiduous network-building right up to the border — as things stand,China can access India’s borders quicker than India can. Most importantly,creating a robust transit infrastructure is the only way this region can participate in India’s economic boom and end its long isolation. Allowing people easy movement back and forth,to transact business and trade,and to strengthen mutual economic links is the best way to truly consolidate the area. It would also facilitate trade and exchange with the countries that neighbour us on the northeast. Now that there is clear recognition of the need to improve transit and connectivity,speedy action must follow.