MEERUT, Feb 22 (KNS) ; In a significant push to regional connectivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the country’s first Namo Bharat Rapid Rail corridor and the Meerut Metro, marking the first time both a rapid rail and a metro service have been launched simultaneously from a single platform in India.
Describing the project as a catalyst for a ‘Viksit Uttar Pradesh’, the Prime Minister flagged off the services and took a ride on the Meerut Metro, interacting with students and commuters. The integrated system aims to streamline travel, with the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail facilitating high-speed connectivity between Delhi and Meerut, while the Meerut Metro will cater to intra-city transit.
This project provides a glimpse of the connectivity infrastructure of a developed India,” the Prime Minister said, addressing a gathering. He highlighted the unique integration of Indian Railways, Metro, and bus stands at key hubs like Sarai Kale Khan, Anand Vihar, Ghaziabad, and Meerut. “For the first time in India, Namo Bharat and Metro rail will run on the same track and station,” he noted, adding that this will ease commuting for workers and students, potentially reducing the need for rented accommodation in the national capital.
The Prime Minister also lauded the project for showcasing ‘Nari-Shakti’, pointing out that a majority of the train operators and station control staff are women.
Underscoring the government’s infrastructure push, Modi stated that before 2014, metro services were limited to just five cities.“Now, metros are operational in over 25 cities, making India the third-largest metro network in the world,” he said.
Addressing the broader economic impact, the Prime Minister linked the new connectivity to employment generation. He cited government investments in expressways, freight corridors, and the Jewar International Airport as key to attracting industries and businesses to the region.
Turning to economic policies, Modi announced that a ?10,000-crore special fund in the Union Budget would ease access to credit for the MSME sector. He also mentioned the removal of the ?10-lakh limit on sending goods via courier, a move he said would enable small entrepreneurs in Meerut and across Uttar Pradesh to directly export to markets in the US and Europe through online platforms.
The Prime Minister also touched upon agricultural initiatives, stating that nearly ?95,000 crore has been disbursed to farmers in Uttar Pradesh under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. He credited the “double-engine” government for improved law and order in the state, asserting that “criminals are in jail, the dignity of daughters is protected,” which he claimed has spurred an economic surge and a manufacturing boom.
Modi emphasized that Uttar Pradesh’s transformation into a manufacturing hub, including the recent foundation-laying for the state’s first semiconductor factory, is integral to the vision of a developed India. (KNS)
