President A P J Abdul Kalam said on Thursday that though the government has taken measures to improve the welfare of people in the north-east, particular emphasis needs to be given to infrastructure and road development.

"An investment of nearly Rs 10,000 crore is being made at Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh and Tripura in thermal power  projects using local coal and gas," he told a joint sitting of Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session.

Kalam told MPs of both Houses that particular emphasis would be given to the border areas, especially Arunachal
Pradesh, for infrastructure and road development.

"The accelerated North-East Road Development project is under consideration, which will provide connectivity between state capitals and district headquarters in the north-east. It will also include upgradation of such other stretches of national and state highways, which are critical for the economic development of the region," the President said.