Expansion of railways in the hilly states and the Northeast region and modernisation of rail safety systems would be the prime focus areas, Mukherjee said, adding R&D and high-level local manufacturing for railway systems would be encouraged.
A fast, time-bound and well monitored programme for execution of the National Highways programme would also be initiated to overcome the stagnancy of the past few years.
“The government will evolve a model of Port-led development. Our long coastline will become the gateway for India's prosperity,” the President said.
He promised that government would modernise existing ports on one hand and develop new world class ports on the other.
“Stringing together the Sagar Mala project we will connect the ports with the hinterland through road and rail. Inland and coastal waterways will be developed as major transport routes,” he said.
