Highlights: PM Modi performs Bhoomi Poojan of Ahmedabad, Surat Metro Rail
The two Metro projects will provide an environment-friendly 'Mass Rapid Transit System' (MRTS) to Ahmedabad and Surat.
FollowNew Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday performed the 'bhoomi poojan' of Ahmedabad Metro rail project phase-II and Surat Metro rail project via video conferencing.
The two Metro projects will provide an environment-friendly 'Mass Rapid Transit System' (MRTS) to Ahmedabad and Surat.
During the ceremony, prime minister Narendra Modi said, "Ahmedabad and Surat are receiving very important gifts today. Metro will further strengthen the connectivity between the two major business centres of the country."
He said, "Investments we have done today will enhance the lives of our countrymen in the times to come."
Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri were also present on the occasion.
The Prime Minister added that with the help of the metro Surat's business opportunities are likely to grow.
Making a comparison between the previous governments and now, Modi said, “Best example to see the difference in the approach of previous governments and the work of the current government is the expansion of metro rail network across the country.”
“Before 2014 only 225 km of Metro line could become functional over the last 10-12 years. However, now the total Metro network in the country is more than 450 km,” he added.
“Earlier there was no coordination in public transport planning. Various cities had different Metro projects. There was no modern thinking in the nation, regarding the Metro network. There was no Metro policy. But now we are working on developing interconnected public transport systems. We are developing the cities' transport system to be integrated. It means that bus, metro, rail will not ply as per their own design but work as a collective system, complementary to each other.”
The Ahmedabad Metro Phase-II is 28.25 kms long, with two corridors, costing Rs 5.3 crore. One is from Motera Stadium to Mahatma Mandir and the other is from GNLU to GIFT City. The Surat metro project is 40.35 kms long and cost Rs 12 crore. This too has two corridors one is from Sarthana to Dream City and the other from Bhesan to Saroli.
