New India dreams big, achieves its goals; PM says no dearth of funds for Mumbai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said for the first time since Independence a New India has emerged which has big dreams and also the capacity to realise them and gone are the days when discussions in the country mostly centred around poverty and seeking foreign aidHe also said Mumbais civic body plays a key role in development of the metropolis and while there was no dearth of funds for the city it is important budgeted money is spent to achieve stated objectives and not wasted due to corrupt practicesSpeaking at a public meeting at BandraKurla Complex after inaugurating and laying foundation stones of infrastructure and healthcare projects for Mumbai worth more than Rs 38000 crore Modi said there was a long period in the last century that was lost discussing poverty and seeking help from foreignersThe PM said for the first time since independence India has the courage to dream big and realise its goalsEarlier there was only discussion on poverty on seeking funds from foreign countries and surviving some how Now the world over there is positivity about India The world knows our country is going forward on the basis of its strength and utilising its potential to the fullest Modi said There is an extraordinary confidence in the country which is progressing well with its futuristic vision and modern approach he saidMany cities across India are going to power the growth story of the country he saidTherefore making Mumbai futureready is one of the commitments of the doubleengine government a term for BJP in power in state and also at the Centre he addedAlso read India progressing with futuristic vision and modern approach says PM Modi in MumbaiWe are working on complete transformation of cities across the country the prime minister saidMumbai will be transformed in the next few years the PM assertedWhile the worlds big economies are in turmoil India continues to provide free rations to 80 crore people Modi saidAmid the global economic slowdown India continues to invest in infrastructure which shows its commitment towards becoming a developed nation he saidEarlier the money meant for the welfare of the poor used to be embezzled by middlemen he saidIn the last eight years when the BJP came to power at the Centre we have removed this approach and are moving with futuristic thinking by increasing spending on modern infrastructure he saidMaharashtras infrastructure development acquired speed after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis assumed office in June last year he saidAt the rally Modi devoted a large part of his speech talking about Mumbai where civic polls are likely to be held later this year along with several other cities including Pune Thane and NagpurIn a city like Mumbai development projects cannot be expedited until the local civic body is also on board and ready to fasttrack completion of projects he said during his first visit to the metropolis after CM Shinde took office with support from the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP following the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA government in June 2022When there is a state government committed to development it is important that Mumbai has a civic body that too shares that goal Modi saidGreeting people gathered at the venue the MMRDA ground in BandraKurla Complex BKC in Marathi at the start of his address before switching to Hindi Modi said what is needed is to see that Mumbais rightful share of funds is used at the right placeDevelopment funds should not be used for corrupt practices and if funds are locked in banks and there is a tendency to stall development works how will the citys future be bright he askedModi inaugurated Mumbai Metro lines 2A and 7 comprising a 35km long elevated corridor stretching from Andheri to DahisarHe also inaugurated 20 Aapla Davakhana health clinics named after Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray This novel initiative provides essential medical services like health checkups medicines investigations and diagnostics completely free to peopleHe also laid foundation stones for seven sewage treatment plants a road concretisation project and redevelopment of the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj TerminusThe 186 kmlong Mumbai Metro Rail line 2A connects suburban Dahisar East with the 165 kmlong DN Nagar yellow line while the metro line 7 links Andheri East with Dahisar EastThe prime minister also launched MUMBAI 1 mobile app and National Common Mobility Card Mumbai 1 The app which can be shown at the entry gates of metro stations will facilitate ease of travel It supports digital payment to buy tickets through UPIFurther the prime minister started the transfer of approved loans of over one lakh beneficiaries under PM SVANidhi Yojana The scheme funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is targeted at street vendors and seeks to provide them credit for working capital for their business which suffered due to the coronavirus pandemicLater the PM travelled in a Mumbai metro train between Gundavali and Mogra stations in suburban Mumbai and interacted with a group of youngsters women and metro rail workers These two stations are part of the Metro line 7 phase 2 which was inaugurated by himChief Minister Shinde and his deputy Fadnavis accompanied the PM during the rideThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever