Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed about the stone-laying, inauguration and dedication of various projects in Maharashtra worth over ₹11,200 crore through a video conference on Sunday (September 29, 2024). | Photo Credit: ANI
Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday criticized the previous government for its lack of vision and planning in urban development. He said that the Pune Metro project would be stalled in the “old work culture” that had been shifted from his government.
Mr. Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for the ₹ 11,200 crore project in Maharashtra, through a video conference, highlighting the completion of Phase 1 of the Pune Metro as a key step in improving the quality of life in the city. He said that the old approach of the previous administration would prevent the Pune Metro project from taking off.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Pune on September 26 was canceled due to heavy rains in the city. He recalled the launch of the metro service from Ruby Hall Clinic to Ramwadi in March 2022 and praised the work done for the expansion of the Pune Metro from 2016 till now for making faster decisions and removing bottlenecks.
Recently, NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule criticized Mr. Modi for inaugurating the ‘same’ project for the fifth time and suggested that he virtually cancel the project.
Mr. Modi also pointed out that the present government has prepared a modern metro network in Pune while the previous government could barely build a single Metro pillar in eight years.
new ambitions
The senior BJP leader, who recently completed 100 days in office for the third consecutive term, stressed that Maharashtra needs new ambitions and large-scale goals, especially to turn Pune into a hub for urban development. Addressing the growing urban population, he said that improving public transport and modern connectivity is essential to accelerate urban growth, is the current government’s priority in Maharashtra.
Mr. Modi lamented that the previous government lacked proper vision and planning for urban infrastructure. “Because of the large population, the speed of the city should not slow down but increase the capacity. This can only happen if public transport is modernized and connectivity is improved. This is the approach of the Mahayuti government.”
“Unfortunately, before there was no vision and planning for urban development. Due to the old culture of delaying work, the country and the State have to suffer. The Pune Metro project was conceptualized in 2008 but the foundation was laid in 2016 and is now in full swing. The previous government could not create a single pillar of the metro project in eight years,” he said, underscoring the importance of a development-driven government to ensure Maharashtra’s progress, as any interruption in this continuity has caused significant losses to the state.
Pat for Shinde
He also praised Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for removing hurdles in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, urging that infrastructure be built keeping in mind future needs, ensuring benefits for all. “Various stalled projects, from the Metro initiative to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train and critical irrigation projects for farmers, are stalled before the government’s double-dealing machine,” Pak said. said Modi.
In addition to the metro project, he laid the foundation for the commemoration of the first girl’s school Savitribai Phule in Bhidewada, Pune, and stressed the importance of balancing modernization with the preservation of India’s cultural heritage and said that women’s involvement in social change is transformative. .
“The country has seen what happens when women take responsibility for social change. If Maharashtra develops, the country will follow. Together we will achieve the goal of ‘Viksit Maharashtra, Viksit Bharat… we have to go through many stages to reach the ‘top ‘Viksit Bharat,” he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the government’s efforts for women’s empowerment, including stronger laws for women’s safety, the women’s reservation bill, and the inclusion of women in the armed forces, “and in the Swachh Bharat Mission, toilets for women were built.”
Underground stretch
Mr Modi inaugurated the new underground section of Pune Metro from District Court to Swargate, marking the completion of Phase-1 of the Pune Metro Rail Project. The underground stretch, located between the District Court and Swargate, was constructed at a cost of ₹ 1,810 crore.
In addition, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Swargate-Katraj Extension of Pune Metro Phase-1. This southern extension, which is 5.46 km long and is entirely underground, will include three stations: Market Yard, Padmavati, and Katraj. The project is estimated to cost ₹ 2,955 crore.
Mr Modi also inaugurated the Solapur Airport, which has been revamped to accommodate around 4.1 lakh passengers every year. “The devotee of Bhagwan Vitthal has also received a special gift today”, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister dedicated to the country the Bidkin Industrial Area, a transformative project spanning 7,855 hectares under the National Industrial Corridor Development Program of the Government of India, located 20 km south of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra. The project, which is being developed in the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, has great potential as a vibrant economic hub in the Marathwada region. The Central Government has approved this project at a total cost of over ₹6,400 crore for development in three phases.
Published – 29 September 2024 20:51 IST
