PM Modi launches 3 metro lines for Mumbai

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated three metro lines for the city worth over Rs 19,000 crore, the 32-storey Metro Bhavan, newly-arrived metro coaches and the Bangongrari station of Metro Line 7 at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC).

The three new metro lines are the Rs 4,476-crore 9.2-km Gaimukh-Shivaji Chowk (Mira Road) Metro-10, the Rs 8,739-crore 12.8-km Wadala-CST Metro-11, and the '5,865-crore 20.7-km Kalyan-Taloja Metro-12 corridors.

Mr Modi said that in order to become a USD 5 trillion economy in the next five years, our cities have to be developed in sync with the 21st century world. “For this, we will have to develop systems to ensure mobility, connectivity, productivity, safety and sustainability,” he said.

Mr Modi also announced that the Centre would spend '100 lakh crore on developing infrastructure across the nation. Out of this, a substantial amount will be spent on projects in Maharashtra. “Along with Mumbai, we also want to develop other cities,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that nearly 675 km of metro lines are currently operational across the country. Of these, nearly 400 km became operational in the past five years and nearly 850 km are under various stages of construction, he said. He added that almost 600 km of metro lines have been approved in the past five years.

Mr Modi also said that more than '20,000 crore would be spent on metro projects. He added that the projects would spur economic growth by making 50,000 jobs available in the coming years.  “Work is being done by the government today considering the future decades’ demands,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Modi, who was on a one-day tour of Maharashtra, urged people to prevent water pollution during immersion of Ganesh idols by ensuring that plastic and other waste does not go into the sea.

Mr Modi had begun his tour by offering prayers to Lord Ganesh in suburban Vile Parle. He visited Lokmanya Seva Sangh, a 96-year-old non-profit organisation inspired by the values propagated by freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, to offer his prayers.

Later on Saturday, Mr Modi announced in Aurangabad that Rs 3.5 lakh crore would be spent in the next five years under the newly formed Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide piped water to all rural households by 2024.

PM Modi receives rock star reception at BKC

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rousing reception from more than 15,000 people who thronged his programme at Bandra Kurla Complex on Saturday. Fortuitously, the event concluded just before the city witnessed a torrential downpour.

Apart from Shiv Sena and BJP MLAs, leaders and functionaries, schoolchildren and teenagers wearing white t-shirts raised slogans such as ‘Vande Mataram’ and “Modiji, aage badho. Hum tumhare sath hain.” (Modiji, go ahead. We are with you) with outstretched hands.

Cries of ‘Modi, Modi’ rent the air, sometimes causing speakers to lose their momentum. At one point when Mr Modi recited a Sanskrit phrase, the crowd erupted in an uproar, and the Prime Minister had to pause awhile before explaining the meaning of what he had said. The crowd also went wild after the Prime Minister extended his greetings on the occasion of Ganeshotsav.

Former NCP women’s wing chief Chitra Wagh, who has recently inducted into the BJP and conferred the post of vice-president, Mumbai region, was also present at the event.