The Prime Minister remarked that India of the 21st century is going to get new momentum from the cities of the country.
Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated Phase-I of Ahmedabad metro project and took a metro ride from Kalupur station to Doordarshan Kendra metro station. He also flagged off Gandhinagar-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express at Gandhinagar station and travelled on the train from there to Kalupur Railway Station. The Prime Minister said that is a big day for India of 21st century, urban connectivity and Aatmnirbhar Bharat.
Modi praised the sound-proofing inside the Vande Bharat Express where the sound was reduced to a hundredth when compared to what is experienced inside an airline. On a personal note, the Prime Minister thanked the people of Ahmedabad for a huge turnout and in a light-hearted manner, recounted the wisdom and calculation of Ahmedabad commuters. “I cannot salute Ahmedabad enough, today, Ahmedabad has won my heart”, a visibly moved Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister remarked that India of the 21st century is going to get new momentum from the cities of the country. “With the changing times, it is necessary to continuously modernise our cities with the changing needs”, Modi said.
He pointed out that the system of transport in the city should be modern and should have seamless connectivity where one mode of transport supports the other. In pursuant to this thinking huge investment is being made in the urban infrastructure. In the last 8 years, in more than two dozen cities either Metro has started or work is in an advanced stage. Dozens of smaller cities have been connected via air connectivity and UDAN scheme. “Today, Gandhinagar Railway Station is no less than any airport in the world”, he said.
Citing the success of Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar, the Prime Minister elaborated on the success of twin-city development concept. He said that many twin cities like Anand-Nadiad, Bharuch Ankaleshwar, Valsad and Vapi, Surat and Navsari, Vadodara – Halol Kalol, Morvi-Wankaner and Mehsana Kadi are going to further strengthen Gujarat’s identity.
Modi underlined the role of cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Bhopal, Indore, Jaipur in ensuring the developed status in the coming 25 years. The Prime Minister highlighted that along with the focus on improving and expanding old cities, new cities are being developed according to the demands of global businesses. “GIFT Cities are also a very good example of such plug and play facilities”, he added.
The Prime said that this is for the first time a 32 km long stretch has been operationalised in one go in the history of Metro in the country. He also noted the fast completion of the project despite the challenge of constructing Metro track over railway line.
