North east can be new engine for India's growth: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dubbed the north east the new engine for India's development and said the country's growth story will remain incomplete till the east comes at par with the west.

Modi laid stress on infrastructure development in the region and said in 2014 Manipur had 1,200 km of declared length of the national highways.

"But in the last four years we have declared another 460 km length of roads as national highways", he said.

The prime minster said now seven out of eight states were connected by rail network and projects were underway to connect the remaining state capitals, including Imphal, to broad gauge network.

"I have always maintained that India's growth story shall never be complete until the eastern part of our country progresses at par with the western part. The north east can be the new engine of India's growth," he said.

The prime minister was speaking at a function for the foundation stone laying ceremony and dedication of multiple development projects in Manipur.

Lauding the work of the Biren Singh-led government in the state, Modi said, "Last year I told you what the Congress government could not do in last 15 years we would do in 15 months. The BJP government has done more work in less than 15 months."