Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday sought to reach out various sections of Mumbaikars ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, by launching a host of the metropolis-specific projects and stressing on the need for “perfect co-ordination” among the Centre, the Maharashtra Government and the BMC for the development of the country’s commercial Capital.
Virtually launching the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena-BJP combine’s campaign for the forthcoming crucial BMC polls at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) ground, Modi said the BJP’s “double-engine” Government — at the Centre and the State — had hugely benefitted the metropolis and said the “development cannot be realised in a city like Mumbai till the time urban local body also has the same priority for rapid development”.
Stressing on how the BJP-led Governments at the Centre and State had contributed to the rapid development in Mumbai, Modi said, “In 2014 Mumbai had 10-11 km long Metro route, with double engine Government Metro got a new speed and scale as Mumbai is rapidly moving towards a 300 km metro network”.
Modi — who either inaugurated or laid the foundation stone of projects worth around Rs 38,800 crore in Mumbai — said, “The role of cities in the creation of Viksit Bharat. He said during the Amrit Kaal, many cities of Maharashtra will drive India’s growth. That is why preparing Mumbai for the future is one of the key priorities of the double-engine Government”.
The Prime Minister went onto give the example of the Metro in Mumbai. “In 2014 Mumbai had 10-11 Km long Metro route, with double engine government Metro got a new speed and scale as Mumbai is rapidly moving towards a 300 km Metro network,” he said.
Indirectly underscoring the need for Mumbaikars electing the BJP-led ruling alliance at the BMC in the forthcoming polls, Modi said, “There is no dearth of capacity and political will for the development of cities. Still, development cannot be realised in a city like Mumbai, till the time urban local body (BMC) also has the same priority for rapid development. That is why the role of the local urban body is critical in the development of Mumbai.”
Modi called for “perfect coordination and a system that works in sync from Centre to Maharashtra to Mumbai”.
In this context, the Prime Minister alluded to the concretisation work being taken up by the Eknath Shinde- Devendra Fadnavis dispensation for the improvement of roads in Mumbai and said: “The project showcases the commitment made by the double-engine Government”.
Modi was addressing after dedicating Rs 12,600 crore worth Mumbai - 2A and 7 –Metro Line projects which will connect the western suburbs between Andheri and Dahisar and a host of other Mumbai-specific projects. The Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone of these metro lines in 2015.
While he kick-started the Rs 6,100 crore road concretisation project involving 400 kilometres of roads in Mumbai, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of seven sewage treatment plants worth Rs 17,200 crore being set up across Mumbai. The sewerage plants, when completed, will have a combined capacity of around 2,460 Million Litres a Day (MLD) of sewerage.
Scoring a political point over the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, Modi also inaugurated 20 Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhana (civic hospitals) and laid foundation stone for redevelopment of three hospitals in Mumbai
Maintaining that all sections of Mumbaikars would benefit from the ongoing transformation of Mumbai, Modi said, “Mumbai will get a facelift in the coming years with the technological advancements of Mumbai Local, expansion of the Metro network, Vande Bharat trains and advanced connectivity faster than the bullet train. From poor labourers, office-goers, to shopkeepers and huge business owners, living in Mumbai will benefit from the transformation of the city”.
The Prime Minister said the projects like Coastal Road, Indu Mills Smarak, Navi Mumbai Airport, France Harbour Link and such projects undertaken during his government’s tenure were giving new strength to Mumbai. “ I am happy that the projects like Dharavi Punarvikas and Old Chaul Developments are getting back on track,” he said as he congratulated Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his team for this remarkable achievement.
Warning various political parties against politicising development, the Prime Minister said that in the past schemes like SVANidhi, which had benefitted 35 lakh street vendors with an affordable and collateral-free loan, were hampered in the past due to political reasons
“SVAnidhi is much more than a loan scheme and termed it as a foundation of self-respect for street vendors. These vendors have done digital transactions with Rs 50,000 crore in a short span of time. Digital India is a live example of the fact that when Sabka Prayas is there nothing is impossible”, he said.
Seeking to put the street vendors in good humour, Modi said:”I am standing with you. If you take ten steps, I am ready to take eleven.” Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Kohsyari, chief Minister Eknath Shine, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Narayan Rane were prominent among those present at the ceremony.