Imphal: Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and Education, Dr Sukanta Majumdar, concluded a two-day tour of Manipur on September 18 with a series of meetings to assess the status of Centre-backed projects and a site visit to a PM-DevINE-funded infrastructure initiative connected to the proposed Manipur Information Technology Special Economic Zone (IT SEZ).
Centre–state coordination and project progress
During his September 17–18 visit, Dr Majumdar held discussions with the state’s constitutional head and political leadership to push for closer collaboration between the Centre and the Manipur government so that sanctioned projects proceed without avoidable delays. The minister met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Lok Bhavan and called on Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Babupara.
At the Civil Secretariat in Mantripukhri, Dr Majumdar presided over a review meeting involving the Chief Secretary and administrative secretaries of various departments. The session examined schemes being implemented under both MDoNER and the North Eastern Council (NEC), and also took stock of investment-related initiatives in the State.
Officials said the minister underlined the need for improved convergence between central schemes and state-level implementation arrangements to expedite delivery and ensure projects meet their intended timelines and outcomes.
Field visits and local outreach
On the first day, Dr Majumdar travelled to Andro in Imphal East, where he participated in the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan and engaged with village residents, local representatives and beneficiaries of MDoNER interventions. He also attended a community interaction held under the banner “Aashirwad Ka Diya”.
On September 18, the minister visited the PM-DevINE project site at Mantripukhri. Officials described this intervention as providing infrastructure for the Processing Zone intended to serve the Manipur IT SEZ, which is being positioned as a potential engine for technology-led employment, entrepreneurship and investment in the State.
What the projects aim to achieve
The PM-DevINE project inspected by the minister is planned to support an information-technology processing area that, according to government descriptions, could create job opportunities for the local youth and strengthen the State’s capacity to attract IT-related economic activity. The minister's visit was aimed at reviewing progress and encouraging timely completion of the infrastructure works.
Senior state officials accompanied the minister during his engagements, including representatives from the Planning Department. Dr Majumdar was accompanied by MDoNER’s Statistical Advisor Dharmvir Jha and Planning Department Director Dr R K Radhesana Devi, among others.
Immediate takeaways and next steps
Officials said the visit emphasised two key priorities:
- Closer coordination between the state administration and MDoNER to remove bottlenecks and accelerate implementation;
- Focus on readiness of infrastructure for the Processing Zone to facilitate early operationalisation of the IT SEZ ecosystem.
State planning officials were reported to have outlined timelines and implementation plans during the meetings, with the Centre seeking assurances on administrative clearances and inter-departmental cooperation to ensure projects under MDoNER and NEC progress as scheduled.
| Item | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting with Governor | Lok Bhavan, Imphal | September 17 |
| Meeting with Chief Minister | CM Secretariat, Babupara | September 17 |
| Review meeting with secretaries | Civil Secretariat, Mantripukhri | September 17 |
| Seva Sankalp Abhiyan and local outreach | Andro, Imphal East | September 17 |
| PM-DevINE project site visit (Processing Zone) | Mantripukhri, Imphal | September 18 |
By bringing senior central and state officials together and inspecting a key PM-DevINE site tied to the IT SEZ vision, the visit sought to translate policy commitments into administrative momentum. The minister’s team indicated that continued monitoring and inter-agency coordination will be necessary for the projects to deliver the projected employment and investment benefits.
Dr Majumdar left Imphal on September 18 after completing the scheduled engagements, according to officials who accompanied him.
