Therefore, there is a need for an effective, sound surface communication. Its presence is crucial to the success of trade and commerce. But, in this area, Assam, or for that matter, the rest of the region, is still far behind several advanced states in the country. What is worse is that even after six decades of the country’s independence, the region’s surface connectivity network continues to be in shambles

There are many hill and border areas which are still inaccessible as they do not have any surface communication system. Even in some sectors of the inter-state borders, there is no surface communication network worth the name.
According to one count, there is on an average 52.68 km per hundred sq.km of roads in Assam as against the national average of 63 km. Unless the road connectivity is increased, the pace of development of the state will never be increased. Good roads are a wheel of development, they increase tourist flow, and add to employment opportunities and industrial gains. Also, they increase the flow of capital investment.

There was a strong perception that after the announcement of the look East Policy by the Centre, the Northeast’s trade volume with the neighbouring Asian countries would increase and the hope that necessary steps would be taken by New Delhi and the regional governments to improve the road conditions grew. The Asian car rally organised earlier, also raised similar hope. But, nothing of the sort has happened in the past couple of years. To be honest, the region has not reaped any benefit worth-noting, from either the policy or the historic car rally, contrary to the policy-makers’ prediction of high economic growth rate in the region resulting from them.

The reopening of the Nathula Pass in the border areas of Sikkim in July, 2006 is undoubtedly a step towards strengthening the trade relations with Asian countries including China. But presently, it is restricted to the border areas of Sikkim and Tibet only. The revival of the Stillwell Road could have provided road connectivity between the Northeast and China. But it has remained untapped for decades together. It is here that the DoNER can provide financial help to the country’s Border Road Organisation (BRO), in hastening its ongoing process of developing the road network leading to China through Myanmar.

There is no gainsaying that ever since the DoNER Ministry was created, in 2001, it has played a vital role in the development of the region. The Ministry, along with the NFC, has recently pinpointed the need for development of the power sector in the region. In the past couple of years. it has been reported to have sanctioned development projects worth around Rs. 7000 crore for it.
Therefore, if viewed from that very perspective, its role in the economic development of the region cannot be underestimated. Its only weakness is that despite its having been accorded the status of a full-fledged ministry under the union government, it is still a department without much power. As a result, infrastructural development in the region has over the years suffered grievously.
New Delhi’s recent move to abolish the Ministry has saddened many. In Assam, almost all the mainstream parties, including the Congress and the BJP, have voiced deep concern and anguish over this decision. The Chief Ministers of the region have decided to take up the issue during the NEC meeting scheduled for May 12 in Agartala.
Utterly weighed down by their move, the Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy, reportedly told the Assembly that the state government would oppose the decision and plead with the Centre to reconsider. Roy was of the view that the Ministry was of immense help towards the region’s development, and its closing down will only affect the region’s economy.
One wonders why the ARC recommends the dissolution of DoNER at a time when its importance is increasing day by day.