Seeking to dispel public perception built up in recent years that Mumbai was losing out to Ahmedabad in terms of importance as a financial hub, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he aimed to use the power of Maharashtra to transform it into a global economic powerhouse and make Mumbai the fintech capital of the world.
Laying foundation stone and also inaugurating Rs 29,400 crore worth road, railways and ports sector projects in Mumbai ahead of the forthcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls, Modi spoke about the power of industry, agriculture and the finance sector that make Mumbai the financial hub of the country.
“I aim to use the power of Maharashtra to transform it into an economic powerhouse of the world; make Mumbai the fintech capital of the world,” the Prime Minister said, while laying foundation stones and dedicating multiple road, railways and ports sector projects.
Throwing light on Maharashtra’s magnificent forts of Shivaji Maharaj, the Konkan coastline and the Sahyadri Mountain Range, Modi expressed his desire for Maharashtra to scale the top spot in tourism. He also spoke about the State’s potential in medical tourism and conference tourism.
“Maharashtra is going to write a new chapter of development in India, and we are its co-travellers”, Modi said, underlining his Government’s commitment to make Maharashtra a focal point in the country’s growth story.
Among other projects, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for Thane Borivali Tunnel Project worth Rs 16,600 crore. The 11.8 km tunnel will reduce the journey from Thane to Borivali by 12 km with a saving of about 1 hour in travel time.
Modi laid the foundation stone for 6.5 km Tunnel work at Goregaon Mulund Link Road (GMLR) Project worth over Rs 6,300 crore. The GMLR envisages road connectivity from the Western Express Highway at Goregaon to the Eastern Express Highway at Mulund.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for Kalyan Yard Remodelling and Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal at Turbhe in Navi Mumbai. The Prime Minister dedicated the New Platforms at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and the extension of Platforms No. 10 & 11 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Station to the nation.
The Prime Minister launched the Mukhyamantri Yuva Karya Prashikshan Yojana with an outlay of around Rs 5,600 crore.
It is a transformative internship programme that addresses youth unemployment by providing opportunities for skill enhancement and industry exposure for youth aged 18 to 30 years.
Elaborating on the national resolution of Viksit Bharat in the next 25 years, Modi underscored the role of Mumbai and Maharashtra in the country’s development journey. “It is our goal that quality of life goes up for everyone in Mumbai and Maharashtra. We are trying to improve the connectivity in the nearby areas of Mumbai”, the Prime Minister said.
Alluding to the completion of the coastal road and Atal Setu, Modi said that 20,000 were using Atal Setu daily, saving an estimated 20-25 lakh rupees worth of fuel.
“The Metro system is developing rapidly in Mumbai as the length of the Metro line increased from 8 km a decade ago to 80 km today and work is going on the 200 km Metro network,” he said.
“Transformation of Indian Railways benefitting Mumbai and Maharashtra in a big way. Today new platforms were dedicated to the nation on Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Lokmanya Tilak Station enabling 24 coaches long trains to ply from there”, said.
Modi, whose stress was on the development activities initiated by his government during the last ten years, said that the length of National highways in Maharashtra has tripled in the last 10 years.
“ The GMLR Project is a great example of nature and progress. The Thane Borivali Twin Tunnel Project will reduce the distance between Thane and Boriveli to a few minutes,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s endeavor to develop the pilgrimage sites of the nation while also easing travel and extending services to the pilgrims
“This connectivity infrastructure is helping tourism, agriculture and industry, improving employment and resting ease for women. “These works of the NDA government are empowering the poor, farmers, women power and youth power” Modi said
“Skill development and employment in large numbers is India’s need of the hour”, the Prime Minister said.
Alluding to a recently released detailed report on employment by the Reserve Bank of India, Modi said that approximately 8 crore jobs have been created in the last 3-4 years, thereby silencing the critics.
The Prime Minister also asked the people to remain cautious of the false narratives being spun against India’s development. He said that employment is created when bridges are built, railway tracks are laid, roads are constructed, and local trains are manufactured. He noted that the rate of employment in the country is directly proportional to infrastructure development.
“The development model of the NDA government has been to give priority to the deprived”, the Prime Minister emphasized, referring to his government’s first decision of the new government to build 3 crore houses for the poor. “crores of families have already received houses. Lakhs of dalits and deprived in Maharashtra also benefited from the Awas Yojana. “We are committed to fulfilling the dream of owning a house for both the poor and the middle class living in cities”, he said.
He talked about the role SVANidhi Scheme is performing in restoring dignity in the life of the street vendors. He informed that about 90 lakh loans have been approved under the scheme including 13 lakhs in Maharashtra and 1.5 lakh in Mumbai itself. He quoted a study that says that the scheme has resulted in a monthly increase of 2 thousand rupees in the income of these vendors.
Highlighting a speciality of the SVANidhi scheme, Modi said that the self-respect and power of the poor, especially the street vendors of the country who have availed bank loans under the scheme and also repaid it in time. “The beneficiaries of SVANidhi scheme have so far made digital transactions worth Rs 3.25 lakh crore,” he said
Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale were present on the occasion.
