Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the gathering during the inauguration of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) Tower, in Mumbai, on July 13, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI
In his first visit to Maharashtra after the recent Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stone and inaugurated several public projects worth ₹ 29,396 crore, announcing that he aims to make Mumbai the financial technology capital of the world. and Maharashtra became the leading state. in tourism.
“I want to use Maharashtra’s power to turn it into an economic powerhouse in the world. I want to make Mumbai (the) global fintech capital,” Mr Modi said, adding that he also wanted Maharashtra to rise to the top of the tourism chart. “There are many beautiful forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the rich Konkan coast and the entire Sahyadri mountain range. There is great potential to explore medical tourism and conferences.
Addressing media owners and senior management at the inauguration of the Indian Newspaper Society Tower in the Bandra Kurla Complex area of ​​Mumbai., He urged the media industry to make a coordinated effort to promote tourism in every Indian State to boost its economy.
Pilgrimage center
The Prime Minister vowed to develop pilgrimage centers across the country to facilitate travel to these locations, making special reference to Pandharpur Wari in Maharashtra. Two roads are under construction for Wari: Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg 176 km, and Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg 102 km. Mr. Modi promised that both these routes will be operationalized.
He slammed the Opposition political parties as “enemies” of development, even as he declared the National Democratic Alliance’s resolution to create Viksit Bharat, or develop India, in the next 25 years.
“Our goal is to improve the quality of life for all. We are trying to improve the connectivity of Mumbai with the neighboring areas … A decade ago, the metro line was limited to 8 km, which is now a network of 80 km and the work will create another 200 km,” said the Prime Minister Minister. The minister said.
A decade ago, the Mumbai Metro was a single track of 11.4 km. Currently, 46.5 km of metro rail network is operational in Mumbai and a further 166.97 km is under various stages of construction.
The role of the media
At the next inauguration of the Indian Newspaper Society Tower, Mr. Modi said: “Media plays an important role in showing the right path to the nation. It will play an important role in making India ‘Viksit’ in the next 25 years. Media also makes people aware of their power and rights- hake … and its natural role is to create discourse.
“The media is not just a silent spectator of the state of the country. All of you media have an important role to play in changing the situation and giving direction to the country. Now, India is at a very important time in the journey of the next 25 years. For India to progress in these 25 years, the role newspapers and magazines are also big,” he said.
Inauguration of the project
Mr. Modi laid the foundation stone for the Thane-Borivali twin tunnel (₹16,600 crore) and the Goregaon-Mulund twin tunnel (₹6,300 crore), to be built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Area Development Authority and the Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation, respectively.
He also laid foundation stone for remodeling of Kalyan yard (₹813 crore) and Gati Shakti multi-modal cargo terminal (₹27 crore) at Turbhe in Navi Mumbai. The Kalyan yard will help separate long-distance and suburban local rail traffic.
A new platform at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (₹64 crore) and addition of two platforms at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (₹52 crore) were also inaugurated. The new longer platform at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus can accommodate longer trains, allow more passengers per train and increase the capacity of the station to handle increased traffic. An additional platform at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus will help increase passenger capacity for outstation trains starting and terminating there.
Mr Modi also launched an apprenticeship programme, the Mukhyamantri Yuva Karya Prashikshan Yojana, which has a cost of around ₹5,600 crore, and aims to tackle unemployment among youth aged 18 to 30 years, through skill enhancement and industry exposure.
