Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu on Tuesday dedicated a series of infrastructure projects developed under Pasighat Smart City Mission, describing the transformation of the state’s oldest town as a significant milestone in its broader development journey.Of the 43 projects taken up under the mission, 42 have been completed, Khandu said. The remaining project — a sewage treatment plant — is expected to be completed soon.The completed projects include Siang riverfront, an upgraded market area, a smart guest house, a district e-library, a recreation centre, smart roads, solid waste management facilities and an integrated command and control centre.Khandu also inaugurated Mebo entry gate infrastructure during the programme.Several newly created facilities, including Siang riverfront development, smart guest house and recreation centre, are already being operated under revenue-generating models. Twenty-two completed projects have been handed over to Pasighat Municipal Council and other departments and agencies for operation and maintenance, while the remaining completed works are ready for handover.Addressing the gathering, Khandu said the infrastructure created through Smart City Mission must translate into better opportunities and an improved quality of life for residents. He urged citizens to take ownership of the newly created public assets and ensure their upkeep.“Government infrastructure is created for the public. It is public property, and maintaining it is also the responsibility of the public,” Khandu said, stressing that community participation would be crucial to sustaining the transformation.Recalling that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Smart Cities Mission in 2015, Khandu said Pasighat was accorded smart city status in June 2017 following sustained efforts by state govt. He said Arunachal Pradesh is the only northeastern state with two Smart Cities — Pasighat and Itanagar.Khandu said the next phase of development must focus on creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, particularly for young people. He called for greater innovation by MLAs, councillors and panchayat representatives to turn local resources and opportunities into viable economic activities.Highlighting Siang’s tourism potential, Khandu said the riverfront, improved roads and better communication infrastructure could help attract more visitors and generate employment for local communities. He suggested exploring innovative concepts, including mobile restaurants, to create additional tourism attractions and livelihood opportunities.Khandu also stressed the need for greater convergence of central and state schemes to maximise the impact of public spending. Pasighat Smart City Mission, he said, demonstrated the potential of such an approach, with around Rs 490 crore contributed by Centre, Rs 51.77 crore by state govt 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,” he said, urging officials to strategically combine schemes to create more infrastructure and employment opportunities.Linking Pasighat’s transformation with the broader development vision for Arunachal Pradesh, Khandu said the state must contribute meaningfully to the national goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. He said govt had begun the planning process for a Viksit Arunachal and would further strengthen the vision through consultations with stakeholders.CM also called for greater focus on agriculture, horticulture and other sectors, saying Arunachal Pradesh’s fertile land and diverse natural resources offered considerable scope for entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods for its young population.
