New Delhi, May 18 (Hindustan Times). Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that compared to earlier, today ‘New India’ is manufacturing technology indigenously and taking it to every nook and corner of the country. India has also built the ‘Vande Bharat’ train on its own.
Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation several rail projects worth Rs 8,200 crore in Odisha through video conferencing. Projects include flagging off Vande Bharat Express between Puri and Howrah, laying foundation stone for redevelopment of Puri and Cuttack railway stations, 100 per cent electrification of rail network in Odisha, doubling of Sambalpur-Titlagarh rail line, new railway between Angul-Sukinda Broad gauge rail line, third line connecting Manoharpur-Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Jamga and new broad-gauge line between Bichupali-Jhartarbha.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that in the recent past, India has maintained its growth momentum despite extremely adverse circumstances. There is a big reason behind this that every state has participation in this development and the country is moving forward taking every state along.
The Prime Minister said that India had surprised the world by preparing an indigenous vaccine for an epidemic like Corona. He said that the common thing in all these efforts is that all the facilities were not limited to any one city or state, but reached everyone rapidly. Our ‘Vande Bharat trains’ also now touch every corner of the country from north to south, from east to west.
Further in his address, the Prime Minister said that today the people of Odisha and West Bengal are gifted with the train ‘Vande Bharat Express’ which is a symbol of modern and aspirational India. The ‘Vande Bharat’ train is becoming a symbol of both modern India and the aspirational Indian. Today, when ‘Vande Bharat’ passes while traveling from one place to another, the speed and progress of India is visible in it. This momentum can now be seen in the states of Odisha and West Bengal.
Referring to the golden age of independence, the Prime Minister stressed the need to strengthen the unity and integrity of the country and said that the country’s collective potential can reach its pinnacle if it remains united. He said that Vande Bharat Express is a reflection of such belief, where it is becoming the engine of development of the country, taking forward the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
The Prime Minister said, “Indian Railways connects everyone in one thread and weaves them in one thread. Vande Bharat Express will also move forward with the same thinking and thinking. He further said that the train will strengthen the spiritual and cultural connection between Puri and Howrah. Fifteen Vande Bharat trains are already running in different states of the country which is giving a boost to the country’s economy.
The Prime Minister said that those states which have lagged behind in development are getting the benefit of this policy of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. There has been a significant increase in the budget of rail schemes in Odisha. In 10 years before 2014, only 20 km of railway line was laid in the state annually, while in the year 2022-23, 120 km long line was laid in just one year.
The Prime Minister said that Odisha is one of the few states in the country where 100 per cent electrification of railway lines has been achieved. Work is going on at a fast pace to achieve the same feat in West Bengal. This has resulted in an overall increase in the speed of trains and also saving time of freight trains.
Highlighting the development initiative, the Prime Minister cited the example of the PM Saubhagya scheme, where the government has provided free electricity connections to over 2.5 crore households, including about 25 lakh households in Odisha and 7.25 lakh households in West Bengal. The Prime Minister said that balanced development of all the states of the country is essential for the rapid development of India. He highlighted the country’s endeavor that no state should lag behind in the race for development due to paucity of resources.
Further, Prime Minister Modi said that the Central Government is paying full attention to ensure that Odisha successfully combats natural calamities. The government has provided more than eight thousand crore rupees to the state for disaster management and NDRF.
