Pune, Aug 1 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off Metro trains on two routes, marking inauguration of completed sections of Pune Metro.
He also handed over the keys of more than 1,280 houses constructed under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana by Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and more than 2,650 PMAY houses constructed by Pune Municipal Corporation to the beneficiaries.
He laid the foundation stone for around 1,190 PMAY houses to be constructed by PCMC and over 6,400 houses to be constructed by Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority.
He also inaugurated a waste to energy plant under PCMC developed at a cost of about Rs 300 crore.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that August is the month of celebrations and revolutions.
Highlighting the contributions of Pune city in the freedom struggle, he said that the city has given numerous freedom fighters to the country, including Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
“Pune is a vibrant city that gives momentum to the economy of the country and fulfils the dreams of the youth of the country. Today’s projects with about 15,000 crore will further strengthen this identity,” he said.
While underlining the seriousness of the government about the quality of life of the urban middle class, Modi emphasised the need to improve public transport infrastructure to improve the quality of life of people living in every city.
Therefore, he said that the Metro network is being expanded, new flyovers are being constructed, and emphasis is being laid on reducing the number of traffic lights.
The Prime Minister informed that before 2014, the Metro network was limited to only five cities in India, whereas today the Metro is functional in 20 cities, including Pune, Nagpur and Mumbai, where the network is being expanded.
The Metro network has expanded from 250 km in 2014 to 800 km today, and work is already underway for 1,000 km of new metro lines in the country, he said.
“The Metro is becoming a new lifeline for the cities in modern India,” the Prime Minister remarked, as he stressed the need for metro expansion to tackle climate change in a city like Pune.
Highlighting the role of cleanliness in improving the quality of urban life through Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, he said the campaign is not limited to toilet access, but also covers waste management.
Stating that the industrial development of Maharashtra has paved the way for industrial development of India since independence, the Prime Minister advocated for further development of industries in the state and highlighted unprecedented investments being made by the government in Maharashtra.
Citing examples of the development of new expressways, railway routes and airports in the state, the Prime Minister said that various cities in Maharashtra are also connected to the economic hubs of neighboring states and pointed that such projects have the capacity to enthuse new energy into the economy of Maharashtra.
The Prime Minister said that the government is moving ahead with the mantra of the nation’s development through the state’s development.
“When Maharashtra develops, India will develop. When India grows, Maharashtra will also reap benefits,” he asserted.
Referring to India’s growing identity as the hub of innovation and startups, the Prime Minister informed that India has crossed one lakh startups as compared to a few hundred nine years ago.
He credited the expansion of digital infrastructure for this success and praised Pune for its role in the foundation of India’s digital infrastructure.
Criticising the Congress-led governments in Karnataka and Rajasthan, Modi lamented about the stalling of developmental projects in Karnataka and Rajasthan for political selfishness.
“To take the country forward, policies, intentions and rules (Niti, Nishta and Niyam) are equally important. This is a determining condition for development,” he said.
