Hydropower is the key to the state’s economic future, according to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who highlighted upcoming projects totaling Rs 2 lakh crore. 2025–2035 was declared the ‘Decade of Hydropower’ by Khandu at Statehood Day celebrations in IG Park. “At the moment, 1.2 GW of projects are operational, and 4.8 GW are under construction,” he said, emphasizing its crucial significance. The 2,880-MW Dibang Project is expected to be finished in 2032, while the 2,000-MW Subansiri Lower Project is expected to be finished this year.
He stated that these projects are expected to generate around 30,000 direct jobs and 16,000 indirect jobs annually, with an estimated revenue of Rs 4,000 crore. Khandu highlighted the state’s coal and graphite mineral riches, pointing out that more surveys are being conducted and that mining blocks have already been put up for sale. He claimed that Arunachal has changed from a border outpost to a swiftly expanding metropolis. Both the Gross State Domestic Product and per capita income have increased by more than 105% and 166%, respectively, since 2015.
Over the same time span, the state budget has grown by 218%. With road networks up 251%, 4,060 km of national roads being built, and Rs 55,000 crore promised for frontier highways, connectivity is the cornerstone of progress. While education reforms through “Mission Shikshit Arunachal 2029” invest Rs 750 crore for school upgrades, hostels, AI monitoring, and India’s first 3D-printed classrooms, healthcare receives a boost of Rs 3,666 crore.
