Itanagar, Sep 12: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday stated that the remotest villages of the state are being brought into the development mainstream under the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP), a flagship initiative of the Government of India aimed at strengthening infrastructure and livelihood opportunities in border areas.
Briefing about the progress, Khandu said that under Phase I of the programme, 455 priority villages across 11 border districts of the state have been identified for holistic development. Out of these, 125 villages will soon be connected by 105 new roads with a total length of 1,022 km, significantly improving mobility and access.
Additionally, 156 villages will benefit from 187 development projects worth Rs 104.99 crore, covering essential facilities such as health, education, water supply, and community assets.
The Chief Minister informed that to ensure sustainable energy solutions, the government has planned the installation of over 6,000 streetlights in these areas along with 50 mini and micro hydel projects, enabling reliable power supply in villages that have remained off-grid for decades.
Khandu said that Phase II of the Vibrant Village Programme (from April 2025) targets 122 more villages, including 67 located along the Indo-Myanmar border and 55 on the Indo-Bhutan border. These villages will be provided with all-weather road connectivity, 4G telecom services, TV connectivity, and on-grid electrification, further bridging the developmental divide.
“The Vibrant Village Programme is not just about building infrastructure; it is about securing our borders by empowering people who live there. Our border villages are the sentinels of the nation, and their prosperity is our national priority,” the Chief Minister said.
He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, which has sanctioned Rs 2,205 crore for implementing the programme in Arunachal Pradesh. The fund, he said, will accelerate the state’s efforts to provide modern amenities, create livelihood opportunities, and discourage migration from remote border areas.
“The transformation of these villages will not only uplift the lives of local residents but also reinforce Arunachal Pradesh’s role as a vital frontier state,” Khandu added.