Inaugurates Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu
Lays foundation stone of underground road tunnel connecting Eastern Freeway’s Orange Gate to Marine Drive
Inaugurates тАШBharat RatnamтАЩ and New Enterprises & Services Tower (NEST) 01 at SEEPZ SEZ
Dedicates to nation multiple projects related to rail and drinking water
Flags off inaugural run of the EMU train from Uran railway station to Kharkopar
Launches Namo Mahila Shashaktikaran Abhiyaan
Thanks Japan Government and remembers Shinzo Abe
тАЬThe inauguration of Atal Setu exemplifies India’s infrastructural prowess and underscores the country’s trajectory towards a ‘Viksit Bharat’тАЭ
тАЬFor us, every project is a medium for the creation of New IndiaтАЭ
тАЬAtal Setu presents a picture of Viksit BharatтАЭ
тАЬEarlier, multi million crore scams were part of discussion, today the discussions revolve around the completion of projects worth thousands of croresтАЭ
тАЬModi’s guarantee begins where expectations from others endтАЭ
тАЬMahila Kalyan is the foremost guarantee of any double engine government in any stateтАЭ
тАЬToday, there are mega-campaigns to improve the lives of the poor and also mega-projects in every corner of the countryтАЭ
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 12,700 crore in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra today. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu built at a cost of more than Rs 17,840 crores in Navi Mumbai. The development projects being inaugurated today include sectors of road and rail connectivity, drinking water, gems and jewellery and women empowerment
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that today is a historic day not only for Mumbai and Maharashtra but also for the resolve of тАШViksit BharatтАЩ. тАЬEven though these development projects are taking place in Mumbai, the entire nationтАЩs eyes are glued to itтАЭ, Shri Modi said. Referring to the inauguration of IndiaтАЩs longest sea bridge Atal Setu, the Prime Minister said that it is proof of the commitment towards IndiaтАЩs growth. TodayтАЩs occasion, the Prime Minister said, is also a symbol of accomplishment through resolution as he recalled laying the foundation stone for MTHL Atal Setu on December 24, 2016. He reiterated the governmentтАЩs commitment towards completing large-scale projects as he pointed out that the citizens during the past were left hopeless owing to the negligent attitude prevalent during previous governments. тАЬThe country will move forward and the country will progress. This was ModiтАЩs guarantee in 2016тАЭ, the Prime Minister said, тАЬI dedicate Atal Setu to Mumbaikars and the nation bowing before Chhatrapati Shivaji, Mumba Devi and Siddhivinayak.тАЭ He lauded the on-time completion of MTHL Atal Setu owing to the disruptions caused during the coronavirus pandemic and said that the inauguration, dedication or foundation stone laying of any development project is not a photo opp but it is a medium for the creation of India. тАЬEvery such project contributes to the development of a magnificent IndiaтАЭ, the Prime Minister said.
Referring to todayтАЩs┬а projects which are in the areas of roads, railways, metro and water, and business-related infrastructure, the Prime Minister said that most of these projects were initiated when there was double engine government in the state and lauded the team’s efforts led by Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis and Shri Ajit Pawar.
Expressing gratitude for the presence and blessings┬а of women, the Prime Minister said тАЬThe guarantee of empowerment of the daughters and sisters given by Modi is being carried forward by the Maharashtra governmentтАЭ. He pointed out that schemes like Mukhyamantri Mahila Sakshmikaran Abhitan, Nari Shaktidoot application and┬а Lek Ladki Yojana are efforts in that direction. тАЬComing forward with women and leading the movement for Viksit Bharat is very critical. Removal of every obstacle in the path of our mother and daughters and ensuring ease of life for them is a priority for our governmentтАЭ, he added. He listed schemes like Ujjwala, Ayushman Card, Jan Dhan Accounts, pucca houses under PM Awas, Matru Vandana, 26-week maternity leave, and Sukanya Samridhi accounts to illustrate the concern for women’s needs. тАЬMahila Kalyan is the foremost guarantee of any double-engine government in any stateтАЭ, he added.
He said that Atal Setu is filling everyone with pride for its size, ease of travel, engineers and scale. He informed that the steel used in the project is sufficient to construct┬а 4 Hawara Bridges and 6 Statue of Liberty. The Prime Minister thanked the Government of Japan for their assistance and remembered Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. тАЬWe had resolved to complete the construction of this bridge as quickly as possibleтАЭ, PM Modi recalled.
тАЬAtal Setu is the acclamation of the aspirations that the entire nation made in 2014тАЭ, the Prime Minister remarked. Recalling the time before the 2014 elections when the Prime Minister visited Raigarh Fort and spent time at ShivajiтАЩs samadhi, he said that the nation has witnessed the dreams and resolutions taken 10 years ago, come true today. тАЬAtal Setu is a reflection of this belief and it presents a picture of Viksit BharatтАЭ, he said underlining that MHTL Atal Setu instils new beliefs among the youth. тАЬViksit Bharat will consist of services and prosperity for all. It will have speed and progress which will bring the world closer. Life and livelihood will continue to flourish. This is the message of Atal SetuтАЭ, the Prime Minister said.
Throwing light on the transformations brought about in India in the past 10 years, the Prime Minister pointed out that the image of a transformed India becomes even clearer when one recalls the India before 2014. тАЬEarlier, multi million crore scams were part of discussion, today the discussions revolve around the completion of projects worth thousands of croresтАЭ, Shri Modi exclaimed. He gave examples of the completion of Bhupen Hazarika Setu and Bogibeel Bridge in the Northeast, Atal Tunnel and Chenab Bridge, multiple expressways, modern railway stations, Eastern and Western freight corridor, Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat trains, and inauguration of new airports.
Giving examples of recent mega development projects in Maharashtra, the Prime Minister mentioned the inauguration of Bala Saheb Thackrey Samruddhi Mahamarg and the ongoing work on Navi Mumbai Airport and Coastal Road Project which is bound to change the face of connectivity in Mumbai. He also touched upon the underground road tunnel connecting Eastern Freeway’s Orange Gate to Marine Drive to further increase ease of travel. тАЬSoon, Mumbai will also get its first bullet trainтАЭ, he added, тАЬDelhi-Mumbai Economic Corridor will connect Maharashtra with Central and Northern India. Transmission line networks are also being laid to connect Maharashtra with Telangana, Chhattisgarh and other neighboring states. Big projects of oil and gas pipeline, Aurangabad Industrial City, Navi Mumbai Airport, and Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Park are going to give a new impetus to the economy of Maharashtra.тАЭ
The Prime Minister illustrated how the taxpayerтАЩs money is being used for the nationтАЩs development and contrasted it with the callous misuse of this money earlier. He talked about the Nilwande Dam project started 5 decades ago and completed by the current government and work on the Uran-Kharkopar railway line was started 3 decades ago, fast-tracked by the double-engine government and the first phase dedicated to the nation today. Similarly, the first phase of Navi Mumbai Metro Project was completed after a long delay. He informed that even Atal Setu was in planning for 5-6 decades. and Bandra-Worli SeaLink, a 5 times smaller project took more than 10 years and the budget increased by 4-5 times.
The Prime Minister informed that the construction of Atal Setu involved employing around 17,000 laborers and 1500 engineers while also creating employment opportunities in the transport and construction industries. тАЬAtal Setu will strengthen all business activities in the region and also boost Ease of Doing Business and Ease of LifeтАЭ, he added.
тАЬToday, India is progressing simultaneously on two frontsтАЭ, PM Modi emphasized. He said that on the one hand, the government is running mega campaigns to improve the livelihood of the poor, while major projects are being run in every part of the country on the other. The Prime Minister mentioned, contrasting Atal Pension Yojna and Atal Setu, Ayushman Bharat Yojna and Vande Bharat-Amrit Bhart trains, PM Kisan Sammanidhi and PM Gatishakti. The Prime Minister credited the intention and loyalty of the government towards citizens while also lamenting the intentions of the previous governments who were power-hungry and focused on their own families rather than the common populace. Throwing light on the lack of development, the Prime Minister informed that a budget of only Rs 12 lakh crore was given for infrastructure in the 10 years before 2014 whereas a budget of Rs 44 lakh crore for infrastructure has been presented in the 10 years of the present government. тАЬIn Maharashtra alone, the Central Government has either completed infrastructure projects worth about Rs 8 lakh crore or work on them is in progress. This amount is also increasing new employment opportunities in every sectorтАЭ, he added.
Referring to the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, the Prime Minister said тАЬModi’s guarantee begins where expectations from others end.тАЭ He mentioned cleanliness, education, medical help and earning-related schemes that have benefitted women the most. PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras, SVANidhi, PM Awas and help to Self Help Groups are creating тАШLakhpati DidisтАЩ. The Prime Minister said that the goal is to create 2 crore тАШLakhpati DidisтАЩ. Maharashtra Government schemes are also working in this direction. тАЬI assure you that the double-engine government will continue to work with the same dedication for the development of Maharashtra. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that Maharashtra becomes a strong pillar of developed IndiaтАЭ, PM Modi concluded.
Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis and Shri Ajit Pawar were present on the occasion among others.
Background
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri – Nhava Sheva Atal Setu
The Prime MinisterтАЩs vision is to improve the тАШease of mobilityтАЩ of citizens by strengthening urban transport infrastructure and connectivity. In line with this vision, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), now named тАШAtal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri – Nhava Sheva Atal SetuтАЩ has been built. The foundation stone of the bridge was laid by the Prime Minister in December 2016.
Atal Setu has been constructed at a total cost of more than Rs 17,840 crore. It is about a 21.8 km long 6-lane bridge having about 16.5 km length over the sea and about 5.5 km on the land. It is the longest bridge in India and also the longest sea bridge in India. It will provide faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport and will also reduce the travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa and South India. It will also improve connectivity between Mumbai Port & Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
Other development projects
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the underground road tunnel connecting Eastern Freeway’s Orange Gate to Marine Drive. The 9.2 Km tunnel will be built at a cost of more than Rs 8700 crores and will be a significant infrastructure development in Mumbai which will reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marine Drive.
The Prime Minister dedicated phase 1 of the Surya regional bulk drinking water project to the Nation. The project, developed at a cost of more than Rs 1975 crore will provide drinking water supply to the Palghar and Thane district of Maharashtra, benefiting about 14 lakh population.
During the programme, the Prime Minister dedicated railway projects worth about Rs 2000 crores to the Nation. These include the dedication of тАШPhase 2 of Uran-Kharkopar railway lineтАЩ which will enhance connectivity to Navi Mumbai as suburban services running between Nerul/Belapur to Kharkopar will now be extended to Uran. The Prime Minister also flagged off the inaugural run of the EMU train from Uran railway station to Kharkopar.
Other rail projects that will be dedicated to Nation include a new suburban station тАШDigha GaonтАЩ on the Thane-Vashi/Panvel Trans-harbour line and the new 6th Line between Khar Road & Goregaon railway station. The projects will benefit the thousands of daily commuters in Mumbai.
The Prime Minister inaugurated тАШBharat RatnamтАЩ (Mega Common Facilitation Centre) for Gems and Jewellery sector at Santacruz Electronic Export Processing Zone – Special Economic Zone (SEEPZ SEZ), which is the first of its kind in India with the best available machines in the world including 3D Metal printing. This will house a training school for skilling of the workforce for this sector including specially-abled students. The Mega CFC will transform the export sector in the Gems and Jewellery trade and will help domestic manufacturing also.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the New Enterprises & Services Tower (NEST)- 01 at SEEPZ- SEZ. The NEST-01 is primarily for Gem & Jewellery sector units which will be relocated from the existing Standard Design Factory – I. The new tower has been designed for large-scale production and as per the demand of the industry.
During the programme, the Prime Minister launched Namo Mahila Shashaktikaran Abhiyaan. The Abhiyaan aims to empower women in the state of Maharashtra by providing skill development training and exposure to entrepreneurship development. The Abhiyaan will also undertake the effort towards the convergence and saturation of women development programmes of the state and central governments.
