An allocation of Rs 9,308 crore (Rs 93.08 billion) has been made for the North Eastern region for the fiscal 2005-06, Finance Minister P Chidamabram announced in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

Presenting the 2005-06 General Budget, he said Rs 450 crore (Rs 4.5 billion) has been allotted as a special package for highway development in this region.

Kumarghat-Agartala and Lumding-Silchar-Hiribam-Imphal projects would be supported with additional funds outside the Railway Budget as projects of national importance.

All ministries and departments are required to allocate at least 10 per cent of their Budget for schemes and programmes in the region, he said.