Mobility in Northeast India: A Clash Between Development and Conservation

Will unregulated development change the fate of Northeast India?

Clear path ahead? By Samaara Oberoi

Despite its rich culture and landscapes, Northeastern India is one of the most isolated regions in the country. Major railway and airport projects aim to change this; however, progress is slow due to unfavourable environmental factors and conflicts of interest. Increased connectivity and mobility are necessary for the region’s economy to develop and for its people to have more opportunities.

Overview of transportation challenges in Northeastern India

The Northeast of India shares borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, and Nepal, which has also been a reason for developing a railway system. The region plays an important geographical role because of its location, connecting the country to Southeast Asia, and offering a plethora of economic and political opportunities. India aims to increase its regional connectivity to harness regional advantages. This represents India’s intention to increase its connectedness with these countries, which is a part of the Act East Policy and the Neighbourhood First Policy, to strengthen the region and the relationships between the countries. 

Developing a railway system, however, also comes with its complexities. The region is marked by a mountainous and steep terrain and is particularly impacted by the yearly monsoons. Construction and the maintenance of infrastructure are rather difficult. An example is the construction of the Sivok-Rongpo railway line, part of a national grid, which was delayed because of this. Another challenge is related to the Bay of Bengal, which provides access to important trade routes and acts as a post for maritime security. Retaining and increasing control in the Bay of Bengal, especially in the North, is essential. Building transportation infrastructure is challenging in this region (for both railways and airports) due to its geographical characteristics (hilly terrain and climate). 

Impact on the economy and culture

Increasing connectivity is essential for the socio-economic development of the region as it remains underdeveloped. Railroad construction in the states of Manipur and Mizoram has been taking place during the last years. For Manipur, an improved transportation system would make it less isolated and increase its development through more economic activity and tourism. The state’s population is mainly rural, therefore increased exchanges with other states could lead to more development and more people wanting to move to urban areas, such as the city of Imphal, which would further boost the economy. As this state relies mainly on agriculture and forestry for its income, an increase in interactions with the rest of India and the neighbouring countries will boost the opportunities for locals. An increase in the exchange of goods and people is one of the main drivers of economic growth and greatly benefits isolated areas.

Connecting the Northeast with the rest of the country will allow for more efficient transportation of goods and make it easier for travelling as well. Having a well-connected transport system will boost the economy and also support social and political cohesion in the country and region. One way in which India has done this is by financing the Sittwe Port in Myanmar, giving it access to the Bay of Bengal. India aims to connect Agartala (India) and Chittagong (Bangladesh) to also have more access to important ports located in Bangladesh.

Plans for development

 There is also progress in the planning of a railway system connecting it to Myanmar and Thailand to further facilitate trading. A railway connecting Bhutan and India is scheduled to be finished by 2026. The government is also working on repairing, expanding, and connecting existing railroads to boost transportation efficiency (by electrifying railway lines) and safety (by increasing the size of tracks and better maintenance). In the last ten years, the number of airports in the Northeastern region has significantly increased from 9 to 17, and air traffic has increased by 113%. The airports aim to attract tourists and businesses. In terms of the railway systems, 18 projects are currently in planning or construction, to increase the region's connectivity with the rest of India.

Challenges to developing mobility

Thanks to Ankith Choudhary

Both railways and airports are being constructed in the region, and have shared and different characteristics which should be taken into account to understand the transportation challenges. Firstly, in terms of construction, acquiring adequate land for infrastructure is challenging. Local communities disagree with the government about land ownership, as well as there being conflicts of interest due to the presence of tribal land. This increases delays and the costs of planning. Historically, tribal displacement is not compensated fairly and the benefits of the proposed projects are rarely reaped by the communities that have inhabited the land for generations. Reduced security poses another issue, due to political instability and violence caused by disagreements over land ownership and usage.

Secondly, for international railway projects cooperation with the other countries is essential, creating room for potential diplomatic challenges. Airports are few in the region due to the challenging terrain and climate, and railroads are underdeveloped due to the terrain, a high possibility of landslides, etc. 

A reduced progress in infrastructure projects is in part because of clashes with local communities who want to protect their natural surroundings and heritage and are against the environmental impact that is brought by railways and airports being constructed. From a climate perspective, their efforts are crucial in protecting native forests and endemic species. The construction of airports and runways is also extremely disruptive to wildlife and has a huge carbon footprint. Apart from their global impact, the emissions of greenhouse gases can also alter microclimate patterns. 

The construction of airports also has consequences for public health, social cohesion and culture in local communities. The presence of an airport causes noise pollution affecting local communities and ecosystems. Airports also require specialized engineers and technicians to work there, and most often these specialists are hired outside the local community. At best, locals secure jobs like support staff or housekeeping in such projects.  

The construction of airports and runways is also extremely disruptive to wildlife.  In this case, railroads would be more favourable as they have a much lower footprint per passenger and can also be converted to electrical, reducing the region's dependency on fossil fuels. What characterises the environmental impact of railroads is reduced mobility for local species. They cover larger areas and can limit the migration of animals.

The railroad system, on the other hand, is less expensive to operate and boosts local economies through job opportunities and trading. Railways are also more accessible to a larger portion of the community and reach even more remote areas, which airports do not. Connecting remote areas to the transportation grid improves education, access to healthcare, and job opportunities. Nevertheless, In terms of social sustainability, the construction of railway systems has caused a clash with locals, causing more instability, especially in sensitive areas close to the border. Construction through disputed areas also conflicts with the interests of locals who may prefer the conservation of rural areas.

In terms of sustainability and the long-term impact on populations both railways and airports have a positive impact on economic activity and increasing opportunities for locals.  Nonetheless, there are certain factors to consider, such as the high cost that comes with building and maintaining airports, in addition to a limited positive spillover to the surrounding communities as airplane tickets are often too expensive and airports might be underutilised. 

Land use dilemmas

This raises the question of the impact of development and whether or not economic growth will have more negative or positive impacts in the region. Increasing connectivity and globalisation might not be what most locals desire. One can draw back to the ongoing debate about increased material wellness and the happiness/well-being of the people and the environment. If ecosystems and natural heritage are destroyed in the construction of transportation infrastructure, which would also impact the climate, it should be questioned whether there is really an increase in the quality of life for locals, or whether this would increase the chance of environmental disasters in the future in addition to a loss of culture. Nonetheless, the freedom of movement is a human right and citizens in remote areas should have the same right of access to transportation, job opportunities, health care, etc. It would be ideal to increase mobility with the least possible negative impact on the environment, however, most projects don’t focus on the future well-being in the area but on the short-term opportunities to make profit and increase economic activity.

Case studies

Pakyong Airport, in the state of Sikkim, was constructed to improve connectivity in the area. However, ground deformation has occurred due to its construction. The runway and main airport building were constructed by creating an artificial tabletop and modifying the naturally steep slope of the hill. Constructing an airport in mountainous regions poses a high likelihood of issues linked to subsidence. The area of Pakyong is also known for its seismic activity, making the terrain of the airport less stable. The mismanagement of land has also made the terrain further unstable. An example of this is deforestation for construction which has destabilized the soil. The construction of more airports promotes air travel in the region and thus development, albeit also increasing its carbon footprint and causing unpredictable side effects such as landslides.

The Assam Railway, a project managed by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is a perfect example of the clashes between development and conservation of the environment. A route is planned to be built connecting Azara and Tetelia (both located in the state of Assam), however, it will cut through the Ramsar site of Deepor Beel which has a large ecological significance, which has caused an uproar amongst locals who want the ecosystem to be protected and to continue living in their homes. Local communities are at risk of being displaced in addition to the damage done to historical sites. The ecological impact is also immense, during the first stage of constructing the railway 12 elephants died, and the upcoming plans do not take into account the fact that railroads act as a barrier for both animals and humans.

Increased transport makes remote communities more connected, bringing economic opportunities and development. However, airports and railways also negatively affect people and nature. This leads one to question whether the benefits of infrastructure projects outweigh the damage caused by their construction and their ecological impact once they are built. 

References

Sarkar, S. (2024, September 30). Transborder railways in Northeast India: Prospects and challenges. Asian Confluence.https://www.asianconfluence.org/publication-details-full/transborder-railways-in-northeast-india-prospects-and-challenges 

Standley B., Lodrick D. (updated 2025, January 23). Manipur. Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Manipur

Choudhury, T. (2024, September 7). Deepor Beel under threat as controversy erupts over proposed railway track. Guwahati Plus. https://www.guwahatiplus.com/exclusive-news/deepor-beel-under-threat-as-controversy-erupts-over-proposed-railway-track

Sinha, R. (2023, June 16). An opportunity and a challenge in Northeast. Hindustan Times. https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/an-opportunity-and-a-challenge-in-northeast-101686898428576.html

India Shipping News. (2024, July 25). Road, rail, and waterways transport infrastructure projects in North Eastern region. https://indiashippingnews.com/road-rail-and-waterways-transport-infrastructure-projects-in-north-eastern-region/ 

Mishra, V., et al. (2024, January). Impact assessment of unsustainable airport development in the Himalayas using remote sensing: A case study of Pakyong Airport, Sikkim, India. Quaternary Science Advances, 13. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266603342300076X?via%3Dihub