Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated PM Gati Shakti-National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity and new exhibition complexes of India Trade Promotion Organisation at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi today. He also reviewed the model of the new exhibition complex at Pragati Maidan. In his address, the Prime Minister said the National Master Plan will provide GatiShakti to 21st century India with multimodal connectivity and next-generation infrastructure. He said PM GatiShakti Master Plan brings together government processes and other stakeholders together and also interlinks transport modes. He added that it is the expanding of holistic governance.
Prime Minister Modi said the India of 21st Century is leaving behind old thinking and is moving forward. He said today’s mantra is – Will for progress, Work for progress, Wealth for progress, Plan for progress, Preference for progress. He noted that the subject of infrastructure has not been a priority of most political parties and is not even visible in manifestoes. He said some political parties even take pride in criticizing the creation of necessary infrastructure for the country. He stressed that it is universally accepted that the creation of quality infrastructure leads to sustainable development and gives rise to many economic activities, and employment on a large scale.
Mr Modi said Gatishakti National Master Plan will also provide an analytical and decision making tool to the investors, and all the stakeholders involved in the policy making of the country. This will help the government in effective planning and policy making. He said it is important for India’s development that all departments linked to infrastructural growth come together and use each other’s collective power. This approach has given unprecedented speed to India in the last few years.
Prime Minister said in the five years before 2014, only 3,000 kilometres of railways were electrified. He stated that in the last 7 years, more than 24 thousand kilometers of railway tracks have been electrified. Only 60 panchayats were connected with optical fiber before 2004 but in the last 7 years, more than 1.5 lakh gram panchayats have been connected with optical fiber. India has also got new infrastructure in the sector of inland waterways and sea-planes. Mr Modi said India just has 5 waterways in 2014 but today, country has 13 functional waterways. He said work is going on at a rapid speed to develop a modern ecosystem in the aviation sector. He said in order to improve air connectivity, new airports were built and air sector was opened up.
Speaking on the occasion, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India is progressing at a fast pace and PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is a symbol of Mr Modi’s foresight. He said this visionary master plan will map available infrastructure in the country, and superimpose the ongoing projects on the map. He added that it has been made in coordination with all the ministries and state and central governments.
Mr Goyal said NDA government has brought many schemes for the people of the nation, including GST, Aadhaar, Rupay card, One Nation One Ration Card. He said under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, 80 crore people have received free ration for 15 months.
