MUMBAI: Inaugurating India’s longest sea-bridge on Friday, PM Narendra Modi used the mega project to underscore his commitment to deadlines and clean governance and draw parallels with earlier regimes.
Beginning his speech in Marathi at a public event at the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport site, Modi emphasised on the themes of efficiency and corruption.”10 years ago, there was talk of mega scams worth thousands, lakhs of crores of rupees. Today there is talk of completion of mega projects worth thousands of crores of rupees.”
“On 24 December 2016, I laid the foundation for the project and made a resolve that Bharat will transform and grow. Today, Modi has delivered on that guarantee.” He said the “double engine sarkar”, a reference to BJP governing at the Centre and the state, has raised the bar. Drawing comparisons with earlier dispensations, he said, “Atal Setu is five times longer than the Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL) but was constructed in a quicker time.” Construction of the BWSL was five years behind schedule due to litigation and marked by cost overruns. Modi said the trans harbour link – which opens to the public on Saturday at 8am – was completed on time despite disruptions caused by the pandemic.
Along with the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), known as Atal Setu, Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects worth over 30,500 crore during his visit to Mumbai. This included the extension to a suburban rail corridor, a mega facilitation centre for gems and jewellery, and foundation stone for a road tunnel in south Mumbai.
Modi said the Atal Setu shows India’s infrastructural prowess and march towards becoming a developed nation. “The execution of the bridge shows that we can fight with the sea and cut through the waves to achieve development. Atal Setu is the picture of developed India.”
The sea bridge brings Raigad, Pune and Goa closer to Mumbai, the PM said, while thanking the Japanese government for its financial assistance for the project. “I remember my close friend (former Japan PM) the late Shinzo Abe (at this moment) as we both had resolved to complete the project at the earliest,” he said.
He said the bridge, which cuts travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to 15-20 minutes, was “the result of the combined efforts of the Central and state government.” Emphasising on his government’s ability to deliver on promises, he called it “Modi ki guarantee.”
The PM said his government has invested Rs 44 lakh crore on infrastructure since 2014 compared to the Rs 12 lakh crore spent in the same duration before he came to power. “Today, there are mega-campaigns to improve the lives of the poor and also mega-projects in every corner of the country,” he added. “Modi’s guarantee begins where expectations from others end.”
Each mega project is crucial for the country’s development, he said, adding, “for us, it is not a day’s event or something for publicity in the media”. The projects launched in the Mumbai region on Friday were linked to “rail, road, metro and water,” he added. Among other initiatives, he said Mahila Kalyan is “the foremost guarantee of double engine government in any state.” Maharashtra government is implementing the “Modi guarantee” of women’s welfare and empowerment with its ‘Lek Ladki’ and ‘Mukhyamantri Nari Shakti’ empowerment schemes, the PM said. “Our ‘niyat (intention)’ is clean and ‘nishtha (commitment)’ is for the country’s progress and development. Whereas the previous government’s intention was to nurture vote bank politics and fill up their coffers, their commitment was to their family members and not to the country,” Modi added.
Beginning his speech in Marathi at a public event at the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport site, Modi emphasised on the themes of efficiency and corruption.”10 years ago, there was talk of mega scams worth thousands, lakhs of crores of rupees. Today there is talk of completion of mega projects worth thousands of crores of rupees.”
“On 24 December 2016, I laid the foundation for the project and made a resolve that Bharat will transform and grow. Today, Modi has delivered on that guarantee.” He said the “double engine sarkar”, a reference to BJP governing at the Centre and the state, has raised the bar. Drawing comparisons with earlier dispensations, he said, “Atal Setu is five times longer than the Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL) but was constructed in a quicker time.” Construction of the BWSL was five years behind schedule due to litigation and marked by cost overruns. Modi said the trans harbour link – which opens to the public on Saturday at 8am – was completed on time despite disruptions caused by the pandemic.
Along with the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), known as Atal Setu, Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects worth over 30,500 crore during his visit to Mumbai. This included the extension to a suburban rail corridor, a mega facilitation centre for gems and jewellery, and foundation stone for a road tunnel in south Mumbai.
Modi said the Atal Setu shows India’s infrastructural prowess and march towards becoming a developed nation. “The execution of the bridge shows that we can fight with the sea and cut through the waves to achieve development. Atal Setu is the picture of developed India.”
The sea bridge brings Raigad, Pune and Goa closer to Mumbai, the PM said, while thanking the Japanese government for its financial assistance for the project. “I remember my close friend (former Japan PM) the late Shinzo Abe (at this moment) as we both had resolved to complete the project at the earliest,” he said.
He said the bridge, which cuts travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to 15-20 minutes, was “the result of the combined efforts of the Central and state government.” Emphasising on his government’s ability to deliver on promises, he called it “Modi ki guarantee.”
The PM said his government has invested Rs 44 lakh crore on infrastructure since 2014 compared to the Rs 12 lakh crore spent in the same duration before he came to power. “Today, there are mega-campaigns to improve the lives of the poor and also mega-projects in every corner of the country,” he added. “Modi’s guarantee begins where expectations from others end.”
Each mega project is crucial for the country’s development, he said, adding, “for us, it is not a day’s event or something for publicity in the media”. The projects launched in the Mumbai region on Friday were linked to “rail, road, metro and water,” he added. Among other initiatives, he said Mahila Kalyan is “the foremost guarantee of double engine government in any state.” Maharashtra government is implementing the “Modi guarantee” of women’s welfare and empowerment with its ‘Lek Ladki’ and ‘Mukhyamantri Nari Shakti’ empowerment schemes, the PM said. “Our ‘niyat (intention)’ is clean and ‘nishtha (commitment)’ is for the country’s progress and development. Whereas the previous government’s intention was to nurture vote bank politics and fill up their coffers, their commitment was to their family members and not to the country,” Modi added.