New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the joint session of Parliament on Monday, saying that the administration sees infrastructure as a bridge to overcome socioeconomic inequalities.

"Infrastructure investment not only creates thousands of new jobs, but it also has a qualitative impact, improving ease of doing business, facilitating speedier transportation, and stimulating economic activities across sectors," stated the President.

The President expressed hope that the Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti National Master Plan, which aims to accelerate infrastructure development in the country, will usher in a new era of multi-modal transportation in India, with railways, highways, and airways no longer being separate and isolated infrastructures.

President said, more than 36,500 kilometres of roads have been completed in rural areas at a rate of more than 100 kilometres per day, with thousands of habitations connected by all-weather roads. "We now have almost 1,40,000 kilometres of national roadways, up from 90,000 kilometres in March 2014. More than 20,000 km of highways are being built under the Bharatmala Project, with an estimated cost of Rs 6 lakh crore, including 23 green expressways and green-field corridors ", President stated. He also stated that the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, which would be India's longest and fastest expressway, is nearing completion.

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