Seeking to speed up development of the Northeast, the National Advisory Council (NAC) has favoured internet connectivity to the region through Bangladesh, daily direct flights from each of the seven state capitals to the national capital, Delhi. In its draft report, the Council has also recommended for a separate plan to implement healthcare initiatives in the region. The NAC, chaired by Sonia Gandhi, also took a dim view of the telemedicine project, jointly implemented by ISRO and the Northeast Council, and pitched for time-bound roll-out of the planned 72 telemedicine nodes and deployment of trained staff. The NAC Working Group on Development of the Northeastern Region, with Pramod Tandon as its convener, also recommended for 100 per cent funding for setting up of medical colleges by the states.

Contending that telecom connectivity in the North Eastern Region should be looked at as an essential service, the advisory panel has suggested a separate Comprehensive Telecom Plan for the region which may adopt the farthest first principle to bring remote parts on the telecom map. It also took note of the demand from the northeast states to provide internet connectivity from the Cox's Bazaar international gateway in Bangladesh instead of internet gateways at Mumbai and Chennai.