Claiming that India has become the third largest metro network in the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that all this was not possible when the Congress and Samajwadi Party were in power in Delhi because infrastructure projects were lost in scams.
Addressing a public meeting in the Mohiuddinpur area here after flagging off the Meerut Metro and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail on Sunday, the prime minister said, “We had to import technology like the Metro and most of its related technologies from abroad. We stopped the scams and also moved the country forward on the path of self-reliance.”
“All this was not possible when Congress was in power in the country. Because then infrastructure projects were lost in scams. We had to import most of the technology like Metro from abroad. We stopped the scams and took the country towards self-reliance. Now the lives of the people of Meerut and West UP are going to change. This is happening for the first time in the country. When Namo Bharat and Rapid Rail will run on the same station and same track,” he added.
PM Modi said before 2014, the development of metro in India was very slow. “The situation was such that during the time of Congress government, metro was operational in only five cities of the country. Whereas today, under the BJP government, metro has started operating in more than 25 cities of the country. India has become the third largest metro network in the world. Apart from Meerut in UP, work on metro is going on in many cities also. In the last 11 years, metro has reached dozens of cities of the country. BJP government wants to provide high speed, jam and pollution free facility to the countrymen. That is why Rapid Rail, Vande Bharat are running,” he claimed.
PM Modi said, “I too have a special connection with this land of Meerut. When the 2014, 2019, and 2024 Lok Sabha elections were held, I began my election rallies from Meerut. People of Meerut, the farmers, entrepreneurs, artisans, and shopkeepers here, have always blessed me greatly. Even then, I told the Congress, SP, and BSP to abandon their toxic politics and let’s compete on the issue of development. However, these parties did not change their toxic politics. The BJP has always prioritized its development policy. Our metro is an example of this.”
“Previously, small artisans could only send goods worth up to Rs10 lakh by courier. Now, this limit has been completely removed. This will allow all weavers and other entrepreneurs in UP, including Meerut, to send goods online to their customers in America or Europe. The people of Meerut, Hapur, and surrounding areas have witnessed Chaudhary Charan Singh’s vision. It was our government’s good fortune to have the opportunity to award Chaudhary Charan Singh the Bharat Ratna,” he said.
“For those who commute daily for studies, jobs, or other purposes, the compulsion to live in rented accommodation in Delhi has now ended. The BJP’s double-engine government is spending so much money on modern infrastructure, saving you time and money, and providing employment to the youth. Look at how new expressways are being built in western Uttar Pradesh. An international airport is being constructed in Jewar. When these are built, jobs are created, UP will turn into the land of labor and creativity,” the prime minister hoped.
He said, “Today’s event also showcases the work culture of the BJP’s double-engine government. Our work culture is to work day and night to complete whatever project is laid. Therefore, projects no longer languish like they used to. You gave me the opportunity to lay the foundation stone for Namo Bharat and the Metro, and today I am the one inaugurating it.”
PM Modi said, “For the BJP government, the development of the country and UP is paramount. Remember, what was the talk of UP 10 years ago? Everyone was talking about the Meerut riots, the criminal gangs of Western UP, bad roads, power cuts, and backwardness. Films were made on the crime in Western UP. But today, UP is known for its development known for BrahMos, mobile phone manufacturing, and the ever-increasing number of tourists. The criminals who used to roam freely during the SP rule are now spending their days in jails under Yogi’s government. Today, no one dares to insult any of our daughters graduating from college.”
He disclosed , “Today I travelled in the metro. I spoke to the people and everyone said that they had never imagined such a day. They were remembering the old days. Sisters and daughters told me that till a few years ago, the entire route used to be silent. There was an atmosphere of fear and terror here. But now, on one hand, law and order has improved and on the other hand, people have also got a safe means of transport. Namo Bharat Rapid Rail has also become a symbol of women power. In this, our daughters are employed in most of the jobs like train operator, station control staff etc.”
He said, “Today, for the first time, the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail and Metro services are being launched on the same day from the same platform and this is a wonderful glimpse of what connectivity will look like in a developed India. To accelerate the vision of intra-city metro and twin cities, a train like Namo Bharat has been gifted. This work has been done in UP”
The Rapid Rail will cover the 82.15 km distance from Delhi to Meerut in just 55 minutes. The train will depart from Modipuram in Meerut and travel to Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi, passing through 13 stations. Two stations along the entire journey will be underground, while the remainder will be elevated.