New Delhi: Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on Friday, December 30 flagged off the Vande Bharat Express, connecting Howrah to New Jalpaiguri by way of video conferencing at this time. The Prime Minister additionally inaugurated the Joka-Taratala Stretch of the Joka-Esplanade Metro Project (Purple Line). He additionally devoted 4 railway tasks to the nation together with Boinchi – Shaktigarh third Line, Dankuni – Chandanpur 4th Line Project, Nimtita – New Farakka Double Line and Ambari Falakata – New Maynaguri – Gumanihat Doubling Project. The Prime Minister additionally laid the inspiration stone for the redevelopment of the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister apologised for not being bodily current at this time, as for him, that is the day to bow to the land of Bengal because the historical past of the liberty battle is infused in each particle of Bengal. “Land from where the call of Vande Matram originated, saw the flagging off of Vande Bharat today”, the Prime Minister mentioned. The Prime Minister recalled that on Dec 30, 1943, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the Tricolour within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and set the wheels in movement for the independence of India. On the seventy fifth 12 months anniversary of this historic day, the Prime Minister knowledgeable that he received the chance to go to Andaman to call an island in honour of Netaji. He additional added that India had taken a resolve to start out 475 Vande Bharat trains throughout the celebrations of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and the prepare being flagged off at this time from Howrah to New Jalpaiguri is one among them. Mentioning the a number of tasks whose basis stones are being laid and inaugurated at this time, the Prime Minister mentioned that the federal government is spending roughly 5000 crores for the completion of those tasks.
The Prime Minister additionally knowledgeable that he’ll get the chance to dedicate many tasks pertaining to the cleanliness of the Ganga and consuming water to West Bengal later within the day. He knowledgeable that greater than 25 sewage tasks have been accepted in West Bengal below the Namami Gange Scheme. Out of which 11 tasks are already full and 7 are being accomplished at this time. Work on 5 new schemes with an outlay of Rs 1500 crore is beginning at this time. The Prime Minister talked about one of many key tasks i.e. Adi Ganga venture for cleansing of which infrastructure price 600 Cr rupees is being established. The Prime Minister mentioned that together with cleansing rivers, the central authorities has focussed on prevention which revolves round creating numerous trendy sewage therapy crops. This is being accomplished preserving in thoughts the necessities of the following 10-15 years.
The Prime Minister linked reforms and improvement of Indian Railways with the event of the nation. That is why, he mentioned, the central authorities is making report investments within the trendy railway infrastructure. A nationwide marketing campaign is happening to remodel the Indian Railway, he mentioned. He listed trendy trains like Vande Bharat, Tejas Hum Safar and VistaDome coaches and the modernisation of Railway Stations together with New Jalpaiguri, doubling and electrification of Railway traces as examples of this modernization. He additionally talked about japanese and Western devoted freight corridors as tasks that can convey revolutionary modifications within the logistics sector. The Prime Minister highlighted strides made within the fields of Railway security, cleanliness, coordination, functionality, punctuality and services. The Prime Minister emphasised that within the final 8 years, Indian Railways labored on the inspiration of modernity and the approaching years will see Indian Railway embarking on a brand new journey of modernization. The Prime Minister knowledgeable that whereas 20 thousand route kilometre rail traces had been electrified within the first 70 years of Independence, greater than 32 thousand route kilometres have been electrified since 2014. The Prime Minister mentioned that the Metro Rail system is an instance of India’s pace and scale at this time. “Metro network which was less than 250 km before 2014 had the highest share in Delhi-NCR. In the last 7-8 years Metro has expanded to more than 2 dozen cities. Today Metro is running on an approximately 800 km long Metro track in different cities of the country. Work is going on Metro routes of more than 1000 km”, he knowledgeable.
Referring to the challenges posed to India within the yesteryears, the Prime Minister remarked that it had a really destructive impact on the event of India. Throwing gentle on one of many key challenges, the Prime Minister highlighted the dearth of coordination amongst numerous companies concerned within the infrastructural improvement of the nation. He additionally talked about the dearth of coordination among the many numerous transport companies and because of this, the Prime Minister continued, one authorities company had no clue in regards to the work being accomplished by different companies. “This had a direct impact on the honest taxpayers of the country”, he mentioned. The Prime Minister remarked that when their hard-earned cash is utilized in filling the pockets of the corrupt relatively than the poor, it’s pure to be dissatisfied. “The Government launched the PM Gati Shakti Plan to fill the gaps in the coordination of agencies”, Shri Modi remarked, “Be it different state governments, construction agencies or industry experts, everyone is coming together on the Gati Shakti Platform.” He additional added that PM Gati Shakti will not be solely restricted to conjoining the completely different mediums of transport within the nation but in addition offering tempo to the multimodal tasks. The Prime Minister additional added that the development of recent airports, waterways, ports and roads is being carried out to make sure seamless connectivity for the residents.
“We must make correct use of the potential of the nation to move forward in the 21st century”, the Prime Minister remarked. Highlighting the waterways within the nation, the Prime Minister recalled the time when waterways had been used on a big scale for work, enterprise and tourism in India however had been later destroyed throughout the years of slavery. He additionally identified the dearth of efforts by the earlier governments in reviving the waterways within the nation. “India is working toward boosting its Jal Shakti today”, Shri Modi mentioned. He knowledgeable that greater than 100 waterways are being developed at this time and work is going down to introduce superior cruise ships within the rivers whereas boosting enterprise and tourism. The Prime Minister additionally highlighted the Ganga-Brahmaputra venture that’s being carried out between India and Bangladesh to ascertain waterway hyperlinks between the 2 rivers. Referring to the cruise that’s going to set sail on thirteenth January 2023 from Kashi to Dibrugarh by way of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister knowledgeable that the 3200 km lengthy journey is the first-of-its-kind in your complete world and it is going to be a mirrored image of the rising cruise tourism within the nation.
Highlighting the love for the land within the individuals of West Bengal, the Prime Minister remarked on the passion that they present in visiting the completely different locations of cultural heritage in India and in addition studying from it. “The people of Bengal possess the spirit of Nation First, even in tourism”, he continued, “When connectivity in the county gets a boost, and the railway, waterway and highways are becoming more advanced, the result is Ease of Travel and the people of Bengal have also benefited from this”, Shri Modi remarked.
The Prime Minister concluded the handle by reciting just a few traces by Guru Rabindranath Tagore which interprets to “The soil of my country, I bow my head to you”. The Prime Minister identified that on this Azadi ka Amrit Kaal, everybody should work collectively by deeming utmost precedence to our motherland. “The entire world is looking at India with the eyes of hope and expectations. Every citizen of the country must dedicate oneself to the service of the nation”, the Prime Minister concluded.
Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms Mamata Banerjee, Governor of West Bengal, Dr C V Ananda Bose, Union Minister for Railways in India, Shri Ashwini Vaisnav, Union Ministers of State, Shri John Barla, Dr Subhas Sarkar and Shri Nisith Parmanik and Member of Parliament, Shri Prasoon Banerjee had been these current now and again amongst others.
Background
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi flagged off the seventh Vande Bharat Express, connecting Howrah to New Jalpaiguri on the Howrah Railway Station. The ultra-modern Semi High-Speed Train is supplied with state-of-the-art passenger facilities. The prepare will cease at Malda Town, Barsoi and Kishanganj stations en route in each instructions.
The Prime Minister additionally inaugurated the Joka-Taratala Stretch of the Joka-Esplanade Metro Project (Purple Line). The 6.5 km stretch having 6 stations specifically Joka, Thakurpukur, Sakher Bazar, Behala Chowrasta, Behala Bazar and Taratala has been constructed at a price of greater than Rs 2475 Crore. Passengers of southern components of Kolkata City like Sarsuna, Dakghar, Muchipara and South 24 Parganas shall be immensely benefited from the inauguration of this venture.
The Prime Minister additionally devoted 4 railway tasks to the nation. These embody the Boinchi – Shaktigarh third Line developed at a price of Rs 405 crore; the Dankuni – Chandanpur 4th Line Project developed at a price of Rs 565 crore; Nimtita – New Farakka Double Line developed at a price of Rs 254 crore; and Ambari Falakata – New Maynaguri – Gumanihat Doubling Project developed at a price of greater than Rs 1080 crore. The Prime Minister additionally laid the inspiration stone for the redevelopment of the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station to be developed at the price of greater than Rs 335 crore.
