New Delhi: Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Finance Minister, stated on Sunday that the Centre is undertaking several rail, road, and air connectivity projects in the northeastern states costing Rs 1.34 lakh crore. Sitharaman stated linkage with Bangladesh and other Southeast Asian nations may be constructed and nurtured culturally in terms of riverine civilisation while speaking at the "NADI (River) Conclave 2022" in Guwahati. "The Indian government is totally dedicated to our Neighbourhood First Policy, as well as promoting the northeast as a gateway to all of Southeast Asia," she said. She said the northeastern region's connectivity projects include 20 railway projects totaling Rs 74,000 crore for 2,011 km and 4,000 km of roads worth Rs 58,000 crore. Dr. S Jaishankar, the Indian External Affairs Minister, and his Bangladeshi colleague, Nirmala Sitharaman, praised the organisers for focusing on the five Cs: commerce, culture, connectivity, conservation, and capacity building. Excise duty cut on petrol and diesel will be borne entirely by Centre: FM Sitharaman Centre announces new composition of Standing Committee of ISC Cartelisation is going to be a challenge: FM Nirmala Sitharaman