Evolution of the Road Network in Northeast India: Drivers and Brakes

The Northeast, strategically important yet economically underdeveloped, has been witnessing spurts of road building activities since independence. The need to establish connection with the rest of India following partition, the Chinese aggression, economic development, and trans-border connectivity are some of the main drivers which have been impelling the central government to construct roads in the region since independence. However, impediments such as terrain and climatic conditions, insurgency, and mismanagement of resources have also put brakes on the development of the road network in the region. The paper identifies the drivers and brakes, which have fashioned the evolution of the road network in the region and suggests some measures to overcome the hurdles.