The Centre’s development focus on the Northeast received another major boost on Friday as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman virtually inaugurated two new capital investment projects in Nagaland—a multipurpose hall in Phek and a guest house for administrative officers in Zunheboto. Both projects are funded under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme, a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening essential infrastructure in smaller and underserved regions. Sitharaman, who was on a visit to Chumoukedima, made the announcement before holding an extensive review meeting with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Ministers TR Zeliang and Y Patton, and senior officials from various departments. The discussions centred on the progress of ongoing SASCI projects across the state, with the minister emphasising that timely execution remains key to accelerating Nagaland’s developmental momentum.
A major focus of her visit was the Aspirational District of Kiphire, where Sitharaman reviewed performance indicators in healthcare, education, nutrition, agriculture, and women’s empowerment. She noted that the district has shown measurable improvement in several sectors, but added that more coordinated efforts were required to ensure sustainable progress. Highlighting the Centre’s continued outreach to the region, the Finance Minister said Union Ministers had collectively visited the Northeast more than 700 times in recent years, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had made over 70 visits. According to her, this level of engagement reflects the government’s long-term commitment to driving growth and improving quality of life in the region. Addressing concerns about poor road conditions raised by local stakeholders, Sitharaman said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced stricter quality-monitoring measures.
Contractors failing to meet standards could now face blacklisting, she added. Post-monsoon road damage, she said, remained a nationwide challenge, but agencies were working on permanent engineering solutions rather than short-term repairs. On financial inclusion, the minister said access to banking services in Nagaland had expanded significantly. The number of villages without any banking touchpoint had dropped from more than 1,153 to just 15. She said efforts were underway to bring the remaining settlements under formal banking coverage, noting that access to financial services was critical for welfare schemes and local economic activity.
