Pasighat: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday dedicated a slew of projects under the Pasighat Smart City Mission, showcasing the transformation of the state’s oldest town and calling for greater public ownership of the new infrastructure.

Of the 43 projects taken up under the mission, 42 have been completed, Khandu said. The remaining Sewage Treatment Plant is expected to be completed soon.

The Siang Riverfront Development, upgraded market area, Smart Guest House, District E-Library, Recreation Centre, Smart Roads, solid waste management facilities and Integrated Command and Control Centre are among the key projects completed under the Pasighat Smart City Development Corporation Ltd.

The Siang Riverfront, Smart Guest House and Recreation Centre are already being run under revenue-generating models. Twenty-two completed projects have been handed over to the Pasighat Municipal Council and other departments and agencies for operation and maintenance, while the remaining projects are ready for handover.

Khandu also inaugurated the Mebo Entry Gate infrastructure.

Recalling the launch of the Smart Cities Mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, Khandu said Pasighat was accorded Smart City status in June 2017 following sustained efforts by the state government.

He said Arunachal Pradesh is the only state in the Northeast to have two Smart Cities — Pasighat and Itanagar, and thanked the Centre and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for supporting the state’s proposal.

Khandu said the real test of the Smart City Mission would be whether the new infrastructure improved people’s lives and create opportunities.

“Government infrastructure is created for the public. It is public property, and maintaining it is also the responsibility of the public,” he said, urging citizens to work with the administration and elected representatives to protect the assets.

Citing Tawang as an example of strong public ownership of civic infrastructure, Khandu expressed confidence that the people of the Adi community would show a similar sense of responsibility towards Pasighat’s new facilities.

He said the town’s transformation must be linked to employment and livelihood opportunities, particularly for the youth.

Pointing to the Siang’s tourism potential, Khandu said the riverfront, better roads and improved connectivity could be leveraged to attract visitors and generate local employment.

He encouraged elected representatives to explore innovative local ideas, including concepts such as mobile restaurants, to turn tourism and other local resources into viable businesses.

Agriculture, horticulture and other sectors, he said, could also provide avenues for youth entrepreneurship, given Arunachal Pradesh’s fertile land and abundant natural resources.

Khandu also urged officials to make greater use of convergence between Central and state schemes to stretch public investment and create more infrastructure and jobs.

He said the Pasighat Smart City Mission itself demonstrates the benefits of convergence. Of the total project cost, around Rs 490 crore was provided by the Centre, Rs 51.77 crore by the state government 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,” Khandu said, asking officials to identify schemes that could be combined strategically for greater impact.

Linking Pasighat’s development with the state’s larger growth agenda, Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh would have to play a key role in achieving the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

“Viksit Bharat will happen only when Arunachal Pradesh is developed. Without Arunachal Pradesh, India cannot become Viksit Bharat,” he said.

Khandu said the state had begun work on its long-term development vision and would refine it through consultations with stakeholders, with the next phase focusing particularly on creating sustainable livelihoods and opportunities for the youth.