PM inaugurates longest sea bridge in country

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated Atal Setu, the longest sea bridge in India. The 22-km long bridge will reduce the distance from Mumbai to Pune and Goa.

Inaugurating the sea bridge, the PM said that the project was pending for several years under the UPA regime. But it was accelerated by the BJP government, he said. "Modi's guarantee begins where the expectation from others ends," he said.

Reminding the people regarding his guarantee, the Prime Minister said that they have delivered on their promises. "I laid the foundation for the Atal Setu on 24 December 2016 and vowed that Bharat will change and grow," he said.

Modi slammed the previous governments for slow pace of progress on various development projects in the country. Without taking the name of the Congress, he also blamed the previous governments for not having good intentions to develop the country. He said the previous government’s interest was to protect the interest of their family members.

Coming down heavily on the previous government, Modi said that they have developed infrastructure in the country with Niyat aur Nishtha (good "intention" and "dedication") for the countrymen.

The PM on Friday dedicated the 21.8 km Mumbai-Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), officially known as ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee Smruti Sewri Nhava Sheva Atal Setu’ around 4 pm and then travelled by the Atal Setu to Chirle and held a mini road show before reaching the dais of the venue of a public event at construction site of upcoming airport at Navi Mumbai. He also laid the foundation stone of multiple projects including road, rail, metro of over Rs 33,000 crore during his visit to Mumbai.

Addressing the public rally at the construction site of the upcoming Navi Mumbai Airport, the Prime Minister said, "Today is a historic day for Mumbai and Maharashtra, along with the resolution for 'Viksit Bharat'. Today, the nation has received Atal Setu, one of the longest sea bridges in the world….I dedicate Atal Setu to Mumbaikars and the nation bowing before Chhatrapati Shivaji, Mumba Devi and Siddhivinayak."

Comparing previous UPA government's works with his government, Modi said that Rs 12 Lakh crore had been invested in infrastructure projects of the country till 10 years before 2014, while Rs 44 lakh crore had been invested in infrastructure projects in the last 10 years.

He also said that the Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL) project is five times less than the Atal Setu project. In the previous government's regime, the BSWL project was completed in more than 10 years. Even the cost of the BSWL project had escalated five times. "This is how the previous government used to perform," he said.  The Atal Setu project is not only going to provide facilities but also provide employment opportunities to 17,000 workers and 1,500 engineers.

In his 18 minute speech, he said that the government is working on two fronts. "On one hand, we are working to make the poor person's life better by running welfare schemes, on the other hand, multiple development projects are being executed across the country. We are operating the Atal pension scheme and also constructing the Atal Setu. We are running the Ayushman Bharat Scheme and also operating the Vande Bharat train...the country is witnessing all this because of our niyat and nishtha (good intention and dedication). Our government's intention is clean and our dedication is with countrymen and country. Jaisi niyat aur



nishtha hoti hain, vaisi hi niti hoti hain (The intention and dedication decides the policy)....Those who have ruled the country for a long time. Their intention was always questionable. Their intention was only to come into power, to make their vote bank intact and fill up their coffers. Their dedication was not with the countrymen but to ensure the progress of their family members. Therefore, they did not think of developed India and modern infrastructure," Modi said.

Pointing out the corruption in previous governments, he said that ten years ago, there were discussions about scams of Lakh crores. "But today, it is being discussed about the projects worth Rs thousand crores, This is our good governance resolution, which is reflected across the country," he said.

The PM said that women empowerment is the foremost guarantee of any double engine government in any state. They are going to make two crore women Lakhpati in the country. "Coming 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 government", he added.

Modi said that Maharashtra will be a strong pillar of the developed country. "We will leave no stone unturned in their efforts for this," he said.

The Prime Minister  also dedicated the phase 1 of the Surya regional bulk drinking water project to the Nation. He also flagged off  Phase 2 of Uran-Kharkopar railway line and dedicated to Nation include a new suburban station ‘Digha Gaon’ on the Thane-Vashi/Panvel Trans-harbour line and the new 6th Line between Khar Road & Goregaon railway station.

He also inaugurated "Bharat Ratnam’ (Mega Common Facilitation Centre) for Gems and Jewellery sector at Santacruz Electronic Export Processing Zone- Special Economic Zone (SEEPZ SEZ) and  New Enterprises & Services Tower (NEST)- 01 at SEEPZ- SEZ. The Prime Minister also launched Namo Mahila Shashaktikaran Abhiyaan,  which aims to empower women in the state of Maharashtra by providing skill development training and exposure to entrepreneurship development.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited the Shree Kalaram Temple in Nashik district of north Maharashtra. Shree Kalaram Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Ram, is also where Dr BR Ambedkar and Sane Guruji had to stage protests stating that Ram belongs to them as well.

Post this, Modi also inaugurated the 27th National Youth Festival in Nashik district. He paid floral tributes to the portrait of Swami Vivekanand and Rajmata Jijau. He also witnessed a march past by the state’s team and a cultural program on the theme of ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047 - Yuva ke liye, Yuva ke dwara’ which included Rhythmic gymnastics, Mallakhamb, Yogasana and National Youth Festival song.

Addressing the youth festival in Nashik, the Prime Minister said, "Today marks the occasion of India’s youth power and is dedicated to the great personality of Swami Vivekanand who filled the county with new energy and enthusiasm during the period of slavery." He also conveyed his best wishes to all youth on the occasion of National Youth Day which is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand. He also noted the birth anniversary of Rajmata Jijabai, the symbol of India’s women power and expressed gratitude for being present in Maharashtra on this occasion.