Itanagar, Feb 15: While addressing a public meeting in Itanagar on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured a renewed push to education and tourism in Arunachal Pradesh, apart from announcing a new train service to the state.

Modi said a "new express train" will ply to and fro between New Delhi and Naharlagun. The train, to be named as "Arunachal Express", will run twice a week, he added.

The Prime Minister promised setting up a medical college in most districts of Arunachal, "which will help the students in understanding the medical challenges of their own region". Modi said the medical colleges will be part of full-facility medical hospitals, which would ensure quality healthcare for Arunachal residents even in the remote parts of the state.

Modi lauded the efforts taken by Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu, crediting him for "bringing the state on the path of development".

"If Pema Khandu remains in power, we will see the dream of a developed Arunachal Pradesh come true by 2027," the PM said, further claiming that corruption in the state has turned non-existent after his elevation as the chief minister.

Modi also credited the use of Aadhaar for direct benefit transfer by his government to plug loopholes in subsidy distribution.

"Earlier, thousands of crores of money sent for the poor from Delhi was looted by those in the middle. They used the loopholes to siphon off the money which you were entitled to. All this is history now. My government has shown what is good governance," the PM added.

Modi was also scheduled to attend two public meetings in neighbouring Tripura later on Thursday.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 15, 2018 12:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).