On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India must balance state development and guarantee no state lags behind owing to resource shortages if it is to expand swiftly.
He dedicated rail projects worth Rs 8000 crore in Odisha to the country through video conferencing, saying India was able to make tremendous progress even under challenging international conditions only because every state was involved and contributed to the results.
He claimed Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (everyone together, for everyone’s advancement) has assisted states that had lagged in development. The 15th Finance Commission addressed the issue by allocating more to Odisha and Bengal.
The prime minister said Odisha added 20 km of railway line yearly before 2014, but 120 km in 2022-23. He claimed long-delayed projects like the Khurda Bolangir and Haridaspur-Paradip lines are being built quickly.
The prime minister said West Bengal is moving swiftly to electrify all train lines like Odisha.
He stated this is increasing train speed and reducing freight train time. He said that electrifying rail lines will minimize diesel engine pollution and assist industrialize mineral-rich Odisha.
Modi said infrastructure improves lives and empowers society. Infrastructure deficits slow human progress. The Prime Minister stated infrastructure development accelerates people development.
He cited PM Saubhagya Yojana, which has delivered free power to nearly 2.5 crore families, including 25 lakh in Odisha and 7.25 lakh in West Bengal.
