Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones of various rail and road infrastructure projects worth over 5,470 Crore rupees from Jalandhar this evening. These projects are aimed to strengthen connectivity, improve passenger convenience and accelerate economic development in the region.
Soon after reaching at Jalandhar from Chandigarh, Mr. Modi inaugurated 75 redeveloped railway stations, including Jalandhar Cantt, under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. He inaugurated redeveloped railway stations across 20 States virtually which include S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali) Railway Station, Sri Muktsar Sahib Railway Station and Sri Anandpur Sahib Railway Station. The transformation of these stations is part of one of the world’s largest station redevelopment programmes, Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. These railway stations are equipped with all the modern facilities.
The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by the Union Minister of Railways and Information and Broadcasting, Ashwani Vaishnav and other dignitaries, also flagged off Sant Ravidas Express Train from Jalandhar Cantt railway station. It is a first direct thrice-a-week train connecting two of India’s most revered spiritual and cultural centers, Amritsar and Varanasi. Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi is the birthplace of Guru Ravidass Ji.
Besides inaugurating Daulatpur Chowk-Kartoli new rail line as part of the Nangal Dam-Talwara-Mukerian New Rail Line Project and flagging off the Kartoli-Ambala train services, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated National Highway projects including a four-lane greenfield Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and laid the foundation stone for the development of six-lane greenfield Southern Ludhiana Bypass.
Addressing a public gathering in Jalandhar, Prime Minister Modi said, the NDA government at the Centre prioritises serving every citizen of India, making their lives easier, and providing them with new opportunities for progress. He said, it is their endeavour to ensure that every family, whether poor or middle-class, receives the best possible facilities, and this spirit of Nagarik Devo Bhava is reflected in government’s work. Mr. Modi said, the NDA government is committed to the development of Punjab and has extended financial assistance worth crores of rupees to the state under various schemes and development projects. he alleged that the Punjab government had failed to utilise these funds effectively and was presenting Central schemes as its own. The Prime Minister assured that the Centre would do everything possible to restore Punjab’s past glory. He alleged that the state government was mired in corruption and burdened with debt, adding that a significant portion of its budget was being spent on debt repayment. Expressing concern over the law-and-order situation, Mr. Modi alleged that incidents of crime, extortion and drug abuse had increased in the state. Mr. Modi also criticised the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, alleging that both parties were preoccupied with their own political interests rather than the welfare of Punjab.
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Earlier, the Prime Minister launched several developmental projects worth around 4700 crore rupees in Chandigarh in key areas healthcare, education and road infrastructure. In a programme organised at Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh this afternoon, the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation Advanced Mother and Child Care Centre built at cost of 505 crore rupees and Advanced Neurosciences Centre built at a cost of 440 crore rupees. He also laid foundation stone of 259 bed critical care block under PM-ABHIM scheme at PGIMER, Chandigarh. Mr. Modi also dedicated Zirakpur-Kurali Greenfield highway to the nation and laid foundation stones for the Zirakpur bypass and the Chandigarh Airport Aerocity Greenfield highway. He also inaugurated hostel blocks at Punjab Engineering College and Government College of Sector 46, alongside a new multipurpose auditorium at Punjab University.
Addressing a gathering, Prime Minister Modi said with the development of Chandigarh, people’s lives have been transformed but its benefits extend beyond the city, reaching the people of Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh as well. He added that the expansion of the Advanced Neurosciences Centre, the Advanced Maternal and Child Care Centre and the Critical Care Hospital Block at PGI would improve treatment facilities for lakhs of people. He said, PGI had significantly expanded its capabilities over the past decade and praised its management, faculty and young doctors for their contribution to healthcare. The Prime Minister also referred to reforms in the criminal justice system, saying the country replaced the colonial-era penal laws with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and noted that its implementation began from Chandigarh. Speaking about the city’s modernisation, Prime Minister Modi said, projects including the Integrated Command and Control Centre, smart traffic management, smart parking and digital governance initiatives had transformed Chandigarh into a high-tech city, with more than 2,500 crore rupees spent under the mission. The Prime Minister described Chandigarh as a benchmark for planned urban growth and said the city has remained a priority for the NDA government.
