Indias Premier Minister Manmohan Singh has announced development projects worth over 2 billion US dollar (10 milliarder DKR) for the remote north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh during a rare visit, BBC online reports Friday.
It is the first prime ministerial visit to the mountainous state in more than 10 years. It is a particularly sensitive trip because neighbouring China, which borders the state, refuses to recognise Indias sovereignty there. Mr Singh was in Beijing recently as a guest of the Chinese leaders.
Mr Singh announced a slew of projects for Arunachal Pradesh including a four-lane highway, Indias biggest hydroelectricity project, railroad links and water supply projects, among other things. He also said a new airport would be built in the state capital, Itanagar.
Indian officials have been concerned by recent Chinese statements about the border dispute, which has festered for more than four decades since the two countries fought a brief war in 1962.
