PM Narendra Modi emphasized urban development in Pune, citing past planning failures. He launched ₹11,200 crore projects expected to generate 30,000 jobs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that cities like Pune in Maharashtra need to be made the centre of urban development to keep up with the pace of the growing population, but the lack of vision and planning during the previous regimes stalled development. The Prime Minister was virtually launching projects worth ₹11,200 crore in the western state that is due to hold elections over the next two months.
According to a government statement, the projects announced by the PM have an employment potential of over 30,000 jobs.
“Pune should have had an advanced transport system much earlier. But unfortunately, in the past decades, there was a lack of both planning and vision. Even if a plan came up for discussion, its file remained stuck for years. That old work culture has caused a great loss to our country,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister’s scheduled visit to Pune on September 26 was cancelled after heavy rain lashed parts of Maharashtra. On Sunday, Modi virtually inaugurated the Pune Metro section from the district court to Swargate, which also marks the completion of the Pune Metro Rail Project (Phase 1). Maharashtra governor CP Radhakrishnan, chief minister Eknath Shinde, and others were in attendance at the official event.
Speaking at the event, PM Modi said that India’s vision for modernity must be based on the country’s fundamental values. “India should be modern but based on our fundamental values. India should develop, grow and move forward carrying its heritage with pride,” he said during the brief address.
Crediting his government with implementing the project, the PM said: “The talk of building a metro in Pune first started in 2008. However, its foundation stone was laid in 2016 when our government started making decisions quickly by removing the obstacles. And today Pune Metro is gaining speed and is also expanding.”
While blaming the previous regime for the lack of development, the Prime Minister said: “The previous government could not even build a single pillar of the metro in eight years. Whereas our government has prepared a modern network of metro in Pune.”