President Droupadi Murmu today said that more than 7,200 kilometres of National Highways have been built in the Northeastern region in the last 11 years. This has made it easier to reach remote, hilly, tribal, and border areas, she said in her address to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on the first day of Budget Session of Parliament. “More than 80,000 crore rupees have been invested for the development of railways in the Northeastern region during the last 11 years. The capitals of Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, and Mizoram have now been connected through broad-gauge rail lines.
This has opened new opportunities for economic progress, employment, and tourism industry in these areas,” she said. Murmu made specific mention about Aizawl and New Delhi being connected by direct rail route. “Last year, when the Rajdhani Express arrived for the first time at Aizawl railway station, the enthusiasm shown by the local people brought joy to the entire nation,” she said.
“Just a few days ago, a new generation of Vande Bharat trains has been inducted. Introduction of Vande Bharat sleeper trains between Bengal and Assam is a new achievement in the progress of Railways in India,” the President stated. During her address, she further said that this decade has also been a decade of initiatives for ensuring health facilities in the Northeast. The establishment of the State Cancer Institute in Itanagar and medical college in Sivasagar in Assam will help provide treatment to crores of families.
Similarly, establishment of medical college in Sikkim’s Sichey and a hospital for women and children in Agartala will greatly enhance healthcare facilities, she said, adding that such efforts are creating a robust health infrastructure in the Northeastern region. “Now, the Northeastern region is also integrating with the mainstream of development. Assam in the region is the land of great icons like Srimanta Sankardev. Soon, a semiconductor chip manufactured in Assam will become a lifeline for electronic products worldwide. Unprecedented attention is also being given to improving connectivity in this region,” Murmu said. “All citizens also witnessed that the events associated with the birth centenary celebrations of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika were imbued with melodies and the spirit of national unity,” she added.
