DoNER projects in Assam face widespread implementation delays

The Sentinel Assam reported that 86% of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region's (DoNER) 246 ongoing projects in Assam are delayed, with 212 projects worth Rs 4,325.71 crore behind schedule as of September 30, 2026.

Extent and duration of the delays

According to the report, 161 of the delayed projects have been pending for more than three years, and four projects are described as being in a "distress" stage. While the projects are centrally funded, the responsibility for execution rests with the state government, and the delays are said to reflect on the competence of the line departments in Assam.

Distribution of projects by scheme

The Sentinel Assam detailed the categorisation of the 246 ongoing projects. The majority, 139 projects, fall under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme Other Than Road (NESIDS-OTRI). Nine projects are part of the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme – Roads (NESIDS-Roads). Four projects belong to the Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE). Fifty projects are schemes of the North Eastern Council (NEC), and 44 projects are under Special Development Packages (SDP).

Delayed projects by scheme

Among the 212 delayed projects, the breakdown mirrors the overall distribution. NESIDS-OTRI accounts for 139 delayed projects, NESIDS-Roads for two, NEC schemes for 40, PM-DevINE for four, and SDP for 27. The report notes that despite being central initiatives, the implementation lag is attributed to the state's execution capacity.

Background of DoNER

DoNER was first established as a department in 2001 and later upgraded to a ministry in 2004. It is the only ministry with territorial jurisdiction, tasked with coordinating developmental efforts across the north-eastern region of India. The ministry implements various schemes, including NESIDS-Roads, NESIDS-OTRI, NEC schemes, PM-DevINE, and SDP, to promote infrastructure and overall development in the region.

Implications for Assam

The Sentinel Assam concluded that the inability of the state to implement the central projects on time may affect the perception of the line departments' competence and could have broader implications for the region’s infrastructure growth and the effectiveness of central-state coordination under DoNER.