New Delhi : Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament, the President said India’s growth in the decades following Independence had remained confined to a few cities and regions, creating sharp regional imbalances. That approach, she said, is now changing, with focused attention on eastern and northeastern India as part of the vision for a Viksit Bharat.

“After Independence, the progress of India got momentum from a few cities and regions. A large part of India and a significant portion of the population did not have access to adequate opportunities,” Murmu said, adding that underdeveloped regions are now being transformed into new engines of growth.

Highlighting the Northeast’s integration into the national mainstream, the President referred to the first-ever arrival of the Rajdhani Express in Aizawl, calling the public response an expression of enthusiasm that “brought joy to the entire nation”.

Murmu also spoke of Assam’s rising strategic and economic importance, noting its civilisational heritage and emerging industrial profile. “Assam, in the northeastern 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,” she said, stressing that connectivity in the region is receiving unprecedented attention.

On infrastructure, the President said over 7,200 kilometres of national highways have been constructed in the Northeast over the past 11 years, improving access to remote, hilly, tribal and border areas. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, around 50,000 kilometres of rural roads have been built, strengthening links to markets, schools and healthcare facilities.

Rail connectivity has also seen major expansion. Murmu said investments of more than Rs 80,000 crore have been made in the northeastern rail network during the last 11 years, with the capitals of Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Mizoram now connected through broad-gauge rail lines, boosting tourism, employment and economic activity.

Healthcare formed another key plank of her address. Describing the past decade as transformative for health infrastructure in the Northeast, the President cited institutions such as the State Cancer Institute in Itanagar and the medical college in Assam’s Sivasagar as critical to improving access to quality treatment.

She also referred to the medical college at Sichey in Sikkim and the women and children’s hospital in Agartala, saying these initiatives are gradually building a strong and resilient healthcare network across the northeastern states.

Promotional | North East Integration Rally