PM Modi emphasises on the importance of connectivity and infrastructure development for Atmanirbhar Bharat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that infrastructure is the biggest source of any nation’s strength. He said as India is moving fast towards the path of becoming a big economic power, the best connectivity is the priority of the country.

Emphasising on the importance of connectivity and infrastructure development for Atma Nirbhar Bharat, Mr Modi said his Government is working on every aspect of modern connectivity for the last six years with this in mind.

The Prime Minister was speaking after dedicating to the nation the New Bhaupur- New Khurja section and the Operation Control Centre of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) in Uttar Pradesh yesterday.

The Prime Minister said the this corridor will become a medium of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He opined that this corridor will open new economic activities and boost employment opportunities in the region.

Talking about the importance of connectivity development, Mr Modi termed the corridor as the biggest and most important rail project after independence. He said the Government is focussing on the five wheels of highways, railways, airways, waterways and i-ways. He said today’s inauguration of a large section of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor is a big step in this direction. Mr Modi said Prayagraj Operation Control center is one of the modern control centers and a symbol of the new strength of the new India.

The Prime Minister stressed on the need for dedicated freight corridors. He said with such corridors, problem of delayed passenger trains would be resolved and speed of the freight train also would increase three times and would be able to carry double the volume of goods.

The Prime Minister said about 60 percent of the corridor falls in Uttar Pradesh which would attract a lot of industries towards the state. The Prime Minister said Kisan Rail would be benefited due to this freight corridor as farmers can send their produce through rail to any big markets across the country, faster, safely and at a low price.

The Prime Minister urged to keep the development of the country’s infrastructure away from politics. He said country’s infrastructure should be a mission to benefit many generations, not 5 years of politics.

The 351-kilometre New Bhaupur- New Khurja section of EDFC is built at a cost of 5,750 crore rupees and most of its part passes through Uttar Pradesh. The section will decongest the existing Kanpur-Delhi main rail line and enable Indian Railways to run faster trains. The Operation Control Centre at Prayagraj will act as the command centre for the entire route length of the EDFC.