Puri, May 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday dedicated to the nation several railway projects worth more than Rs 8000 crores in Odisha via video conferencing.
The projects included flagging off the Vande Bharat Express between Puri and Howrah, laying the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Puri and Cuttack railway stations, dedication of 100 per cent electrification of the rail network in Odisha, doubling of the Sambalpur-Titlagarh rail line, a new broad gauge rail line between Angul – Sukinda; the third line connecting Manoharpur – Rourkela – Jharsuguda – Jamga and a new broad-gauge line between Bichhupali – Jhartarbha.
The Prime Minister said that this policy of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is benefitting those states, which lagged behind in development.
He said that the budget for railway schemes in Odisha has increased significantly. He said in 10 years before 2014, only 20 km of Railway Lines were laid annually in the state, while in the year 2022-23, 120 km long lines were laid in just one year. He said long pending projects like the Khurda Bolangir line, and the Haridaspur-Paradip line, are being completed rapidly.
Odisha is one of those states in the country where 100 percent electrification of rail lines has been achieved”, the Prime Minister remarked as he informed that work is underway at a fast pace to achieve the same feat in West Bengal.
The Prime Minister said this has resulted in the overall increase in the speed of trains as well as saved time for freight trains. He noted that the mineral-rich state of Odisha will greatly benefit from the electrification of rail lines where pollution emanating from diesel engines will be significantly reduced and help in the industrial development of the state.
The Prime Minister also said that infrastructure not only makes people’s lives easier but also empowers society. “The development of the people lags behind when there is a lack of infrastructure. When infrastructure is developed, the rapid development of the people takes place simultaneously”, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said that India’s achievements in the field of infrastructure are the subject of studies today. He said when 10 lakh crores are allocated for infrastructure, that creates lakhs of jobs and railway and highway connectivity goes beyond ease of travel and connects farmers with new markets, tourists with new attractions and students with their preferred colleges.
The Prime Minister said the country is moving with the spirit of ‘Jan Seva hi Prabhu Seva’ – Service of people is the service of god.
He mentioned Temples like Jagannath and places of pilgrimage like Puri where Prasad has been distributed for centuries and thousands of poor people are fed.
He said in the same spirit initiatives like PM Garib Kalyan Scheme providing free ration to 80 crore people and schemes like Ayushman Card, Ujwalla, Jal Jeevan Mission and PM Awas Yojana. “Today the poor are getting all those basic facilities for which they had to wait for years”, he said.
He said, ‘’Balanced development of the states is equally necessary for the rapid development of India”.
The Prime Minister said no state should lag behind in the race of development due to lack of resources.
That is why, the Prime Minister said, the 15th Finance Commission recommended higher budgets for states like Odisha and West Bengal.
Noting that Odisha has been blessed with vast natural wealth but was deprived of its own resources due to faulty policies, the Prime Minister highlighted that the Government reformed the mining policy keeping in mind the mineral wealth which led to the considerable increase in the revenue of all the states possessing mineral wealth.
He also mentioned that the income from tax has also increased after the introduction of GST. The Prime Minister stressed that the resources are being used for the development of the state and for the service of the poor in the villages.
The central government is paying full attention to ensure that Odisha can successfully combat natural calamities”, the Prime Minister said as he informed that the Government has provided more than Rs 8,000 crore rupees to the state for disaster management and NDRF.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the pace of development in Odisha, West Bengal and the entire country will get a boost and the nation will achieve the goal of a new and developed India.
Governor of Odisha Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan were present on the occasion among others.
