Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India is progressing faster with a renewed vigour, new inspiration and fresh resolutions since the beginning of Azadi ka Amrit Kaal in reaching at pace towards the goal of becoming a developed nation.
A new chapter in the history of Indian Railways is added today, when the redevelopment of 508 railway stations of India are is starting at a cost of Rs. 25 thousand crores.
As many as 1300 stations in the country will be re-developed under “Amrit Bharat Railway Stations Scheme”.
He appreciated the Ministry of Railways for this achievement and extended greetings to people.
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was addressing today through video conferencing at the foundation stone laying programme of reconstruction of 508 railway stations of the country including 34 of 21 districts of Madhya Pradesh.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan joined the programme at Vidisha station.
Prime Minister Modi said that all the states of India will get immense benefits. As many as 34 railway stations will be re-developed and reconstructed in Madhya Pradesh at a cost of Rs. 1000 crore while 55 railway stations will be developed in Uttar Pradesh at a cost of Rs. 4500 crore and 44 railway stations in Maharashtra at a cost of Rs. 1500 crore. 55 railway stations will be developed in Rajasthan. The states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and North East will also get the benefit of this scheme.
Prime Minister Modi said that the nation has witnessed an unprecedented expansion in the network of Indian Railways in the last 9 years during which the railway network laid in India exceeds the total railway network laid in South Africa, Ukraine, Poland, UK, Sweden.
The number of modern trains in India is also increasing rapidly. Today Indian Railways has become a symbol of development. India has found permanent solutions to the world’s challenges. India’s credibility has increased all over the world. The world’s attitude towards India has changed.
Modi said that all efforts are being made to ensure that every citizen has a comfortable and pleasant train journey with a good feeling and experience at the railway station. Good seating arrangements, waiting rooms, free WiFi etc. facilities are being provided at every railway station. Along with the lifeline of India, Indian Railways is also becoming the identity of our cities. Railway stations are now becoming the ‘Heart of the City’. Modernization of railway stations will create a new environment for development, tourism will get a boost and economic activities will maximise.
Prime Minister Modi said that with the ‘One Station One Product’ scheme, railway stations are now becoming the identity of cities and states. A glimpse of the local heritage and culture can be seen at the stations. Along with fulfilling the passengers’ aspirations, they are also becoming symbol of historical heritage.
Prime Minister Modi said that Indian Railways has immense possibilities to speed up development. It is giving new opportunities to development specially the youth. Recently, the Railways has given permanent jobs to 1.5 lakh youth. Indian Railways’ budget is more than 2.5 lakh crore today, which is 5 times more than the budget in 2014. Production of locomotives has increased by 9 times and 13 times more HCP coaches are being manufactured. Railways are expanding in the North-East and soon all the capitals there will be well-connected. A dedicated corridor has been made for goods trains. Farmers are benefitting the most due to less time taken by goods trains. India’s products are selling fast in the world market due to the fast traffic. Before 2014, there were less than 6000 railway bridges in Bhopal, today there are more than 10000. Unmanned Level Crossings (Broad Line) are now nil.
Prime Minister Modi said that by the year 2030, Indian Railways will run on ‘Net Zero Emission’. Soon cent percent railway lines will be electrified. Indian Railways is environment friendly along with modernity. In the last 9 years, more than 1200 railway stations in India have been electrified by solar panels, 70 thousand LED lights have been installed and bio-toilets have increased by 28 times.
Prime Minister Modi said that August is a special month in many ways. It is a month of revolution, gratitude and duty. August 7 is the day of Swadeshi Movement. This is the day on which we should take a pledge to be vocal for local. Give importance to local products. Install eco-friendly idols on Ganesh Chaturthi and 9th August is Quit India Day, on this day we should take a pledge to “Quit India of Evil, Corruption, Familyism, Appeasement”. August 14 is the day of tragedy of partition, on this day we express our condolences to the families who suffered and 15th August is the day of gratitude towards the nation, hoist the tricolour at every house. Let every day, every mind, every house, every dream, every resolution be tri-colour.
Prime Minister Modi said that the tax paid by the citizens is used in nation building. The number of tax payers is continuously increasing. Tax payees have increased by 16 percent in the last few days. It is Modi’s guarantee that income tax will not be taken on income upto Rs. 7 lakh. People’s faith in development is deepening. Rejuvenation of railways, metro expansion, expressways, airports, hospitals, schools etc. development works are going on at pace. All this is the guarantee of a good future for the children. New India is emerging. Let us all take a pledge that we will also discharge responsibilities as citizens.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan while thanking the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for developing world-class infrastructure in the country and the state said that the Double Engine Government of the Centre and Madhya Pradesh will develop Madhya Pradesh by ensuring welfare of all sections. Today the country and the State are progressive, prosperous and self-reliant under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Prime Minister Modi is leading many global initiatives for which world is praising India. The foundation stone of rejuvenation of 34 stations of the state will give a prosperous and infrastructural new look to the state. Vidisha’s station will be rejuvenated with Rs. 28 crore.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that in 2014, the railways budget for Madhya Pradesh used to be only 632 crores, it has been increased almost 21 times i.e. 13 thousand 607 crores under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Modi.
Road, air and rail traffic of the state has improved in the double engine government. Historical works of education, health, irrigation and infrastructure have been carried out in Vidisha. The CM assured the common people that his government would make the state developed through development, construction and social welfare works. He appealed to the people to participate in development processes.
Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav said through VC that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the country has done a great job in infrastructure development of water, air, road and rail. Today the budget of the Railways has increased to about Rs. 2.5 lakh crore. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 1300 stations of the country are to be redeveloped and at present construction works will be done for the development of modern passenger facilities at 508 railway stations of the country with an amount of Rs. 25000 crore. Describing the day as a historic, he thanked the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Modi and extended best wishes to the countrymen.
