Multiple projects related to the road, railways and ports sector worth more than INR 29,400 crores in Mumbai, Maharashtra were given a green flag this week. The Prime Minister also pointed the state’s potential in medical and conference tourism.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple projects related to the road, railways and ports sector worth more than INR 29,400 crores in Mumbai, Maharashtra this week. At the event, he also spoke about the state’s potential in terms in tourism.
“My goal is to harness this power to make Maharashtra the world’s biggest economic powerhouse and to transform Mumbai into the FinTech capital of the world. I aspire for Maharashtra to become Bharat’s top state in terms of tourism,” PM Modi. He also spoke about the state’s potential in medical tourism and conference tourism. “Maharashtra is going to write a new chapter of development in India, and we are its co-travellers”, he said.
Speaking on connectivity, Prime Minister informed that the length of National highways in Maharashtra has tripled in the last 10 years. Goregaon Mulund Link Road (GMLR) Project, he said, is a great example of nature and progress. The Thane Borivali Twin Tunnel Project will reduce the distance between Thane and Boriveli to a few minutes. The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s endeavour to develop the pilgrimage sites of the nation while also easing travel and extending services to the pilgrims. He noted that lakhs of pilgrims are taking part in Pandharpur Wari and mentioned the construction of Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi Marg to approximately 200 km, and Sant Tukaram Palkhi Marg to approximately 110 km to ease travel for the pilgrims. He assured that these two roads would soon become operational.
Modi said that this connectivity infrastructure is helping tourism, agriculture and industry, improving employment and resting ease for women.
The Prime Minister expressed happiness for getting the opportunity to lay the foundation stones and dedicate multiple projects to improve road and rail connectivity between Mumbai and nearby regions. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for Thane Borivali Tunnel Project worth INR 16,600 crores. This Twin Tube Tunnel between Thane and Borivali alignment will pass below Sanjay Gandhi National Park creating a direct connection between the Western Express Highway on Borivali side and Thane Ghodbander Road on Thane side. He also laid the foundation stone for Tunnel work at Goregaon Mulund Link Road (GMLR) Project worth over INR 6300 crores. The GMLR envisages road connectivity from the Western Express Highway at Goregaon to the Eastern Express Highway at Mulund. Besides, he also dedicated the New Platforms at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and the extension of Platforms No. 10 & 11 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Station to the nation. The new longer platforms at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus can accommodate longer trains, make way for more passengers per train and improve the station’s capacity to handle increased traffic.
“We are trying to improve the connectivity in the nearby areas of Mumbai”, he said. He mentioned the completion of the coastal road and Atal Setu. He informed that about 20 thousand vehicles are using Atal Setu daily, saving an estimated 20-25 lakh rupees worth of fuel.
“Transformation of Indian Railways benefitting Mumbai and Maharashtra in a big way”, PM Modi said as he mentioned the redevelopment of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Nagpur station. “Today new platforms were dedicated to the nation on Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Lokmanya Tilak Station enabling 24 coaches long trains to ply from there”, he added.
He also spoke about a huge skill development project for the youth of Maharashtra which will further boost employment opportunities in the state. The Prime Minister mentioned Vadhavan port which was recently approved by the central government. “The INR 76,000 crore project will create more than 10 lakh jobs”, he added.
