Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects in Delhi worth over ₹12,200 crore. These projects aim to strengthen regional connectivity and enhance ease of travel. On the occasion, the Prime Minister also took a ride on the Namo Bharat Train from Sahibabad RRTS Station to New Ashok Nagar RRTS Station.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister highlighted that Delhi-NCR has received a significant gift from the Government of India, marking a new chapter in India's urban mobility. He described the Namo Bharat Train as the future of public transport in India's developed cities and emphasized the transformative impact the project will have on the Delhi-Meerut route upon completion.
The Prime Minister termed the milestone of India’s metro network crossing 1,000 kilometers as a historic achievement. He pointed out that in 2014, India’s metro network was limited to just 248 kilometers across five cities. Over the past decade, an additional 752 kilometers of metro lines have been operationalized, with metro services now active in 21 cities nationwide.
Focusing on the expansion of the Delhi Metro, the Prime Minister noted that another part of Haryana, in addition to Gurugram, is now being integrated into the metro network. He referred to the Rithala-Narela-Kundli corridor, which will be one of the largest segments of the Delhi Metro network. This corridor is expected to enhance connectivity between major industrial hubs in Delhi and Haryana, making daily commutes more convenient.
The Prime Minister lauded the continuous efforts of the Government of India in steadily increasing metro routes across Delhi-NCR. He remarked that in 2014, Delhi-NCR’s metro network was less than 200 kilometers, but it has now more than doubled in size.
A Decade of Infrastructure Development:
The Prime Minister said the infrastructure budget, which was around ₹2 lakh crore a decade ago, has now grown to over ₹11 lakh crore. He underscored the emphasis on modern connectivity, both within cities and between urban centers, and noted the development of expressways, industrial corridors, and multi-modal logistics hubs in NCR. He also mentioned the convergence of two major freight corridors in Delhi-NCR, which will contribute to economic growth and create employment opportunities for the youth.
India Aspiration to Become the Health and Wellness Capital:
The Prime Minister emphasized India’s potential to become the world’s health and wellness capital. He highlighted government initiatives to promote traditional Indian medicine systems like AYUSH and Ayurveda, which have now reached over 100 countries. He noted the establishment of the World Health Organization’s first Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India and the introduction of a special AYUSH visa to facilitate medical tourism. He added that hundreds of foreign nationals have already benefited from this facility.
New Heights for Delhi's Development: The Prime Minister expressed confidence that these initiatives would propel Delhi-NCR’s development to new heights. He congratulated the people of Delhi-NCR for these transformative projects and reiterated the government’s commitment to building a modern, sustainable, and inclusive future.
