The Governor of Karnataka, Shri Thawar Chand ji Gehlot, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Basavaraj Bommai ji, my colleagues in the Union Cabinet, the Ministers, MPs and MLAs of the Government of Karnataka, and my dear brothers and sisters who have come in large numbers!

Today is an important day for India's maritime power. Be it the military security of the nation or the economic security of the nation, India is witnessing huge opportunities today. The launch of India's first indigenous aircraft carrier in Kochi just a few hours ago has filled every Indian with pride.

And now projects worth more than Rs 3,700 crores have either been inaugurated or their foundation stone laid in Mangaluru. Along with expanding the capacity of the historic Mangalore Port, several projects have also been inaugurated and their foundation stone laid to increase the income of the refinery and our fishermen. I congratulate all of you, the people of Karnataka, for these projects.

These projects will add more strength to the businesses and industries and ease of doing business in Karnataka. Being developed exclusively under One District One Product, it will be easier for the products of farmers and fishermen of Karnataka to reach the international markets.

Friends,

The first of the five ‘pran’ (pledges) that I talked about from the ramparts of Red Fort during this year’s Independence Day is the creation of a developed India. To build a developed India, it is very necessary to expand Make in India in the manufacturing sector of the country. To build a developed India, it is necessary that our exports increase and our products in the world should be competitive in terms of cost. This is not possible without cheap and easy logistics.

Keeping this in mind, unprecedented work has been done on the infrastructure of the country for the last eight years. Today there is hardly any part of the country where work on some major infrastructure project is not going on. While the road infrastructure of bordering states is being strengthened from the Bharatmala project, the coastal infrastructure is getting power from the SagarMala project.

Brothers and sisters,

Over the years, the country has made port-led development an important mantra for development. As a result of these efforts, the capacity of India's ports has almost doubled in just eight years. That is, as much as the port capacity was built till 2014, the same amount of capacity has been added in the last eight years.

The new technology-related facilities that have been added to Mangalore Port are going to increase both its capacity and efficiency. The four projects related to the storage of gas and liquid cargo, whose foundation stone has been laid today, are going to be of great benefit to Karnataka and the country. This will also reduce the import cost of edible oil, LPG gas and bitumen.

Friends,

India is moving ahead with the resolve of green growth in the ‘Amrit Kaal’. Green growth and green jobs are new opportunities. The new facilities added to the refinery here today also reflect our priorities. So far, this refinery was dependent on river water. The desalination plant will reduce the refinery's dependence on river water.

Brothers and sisters,

The way the country has made infrastructure development a priority in the last eight years, Karnataka has benefited immensely from it. Karnataka is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the SagarMala scheme. National highways projects worth 70,000 crore rupees have been implemented in Karnataka in the last eight years. Moreover, projects worth more than Rs one lakh crore are in the pipeline. Many projects, including the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway, development of the six-lane Bengaluru-Mysore Road Highway, the Greenfield Corridor connecting Bengaluru to Pune and Bengaluru Satellite Ring Road, are underway.

There has been a more than four-time increase in the railway budget of Karnataka in comparison to the period before 2014. Railway lines too have widened at more than four times speed in the last eight years. A major part of the electrification of railway lines in Karnataka has been completed in the last eight years.

Friends,

Today's India is focusing so much on the development of modern infrastructure because this is the only way to build a developed India. Construction of modern infrastructure along with increasing the facilities also creates new employment on a large scale. This is also the way for the fulfillment of our big resolutions in the ‘Amrit Kaal’.

Brothers and sisters,

For the rapid development of the country, it is also very necessary that the energy of the people of the country should be channelized in the right direction. When the energy of the people is spent in mobilizing basic facilities, it also affects the pace of development of the country. Pucca houses, toilets, clean water, electricity and smoke-free kitchens are the basic needs in today's era to live a dignified life.

Our double-engine government is laying maximum emphasis on these facilities. More than three crore houses have been built for the poor in the country in the last eight years. In Karnataka also, approval has been given for more than 8 lakh pucca houses for the poor. Thousands of middle-class families have also been given the financial help of crores of rupees to build their houses.

Piped water has been provided to more than six crore households in the country in just three years under the Jal Jeevan Mission. For the first time, piped water has reached more than 30 lakh rural households in Karnataka. I am happy that our sisters and daughters are the biggest beneficiaries of these facilities.

Friends,

The major needs of the poor are affordable treatment facilities and social security. When any misfortune happens, the whole family and sometimes even the future generations of the poor have to suffer. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana has liberated the poor people from this worry. Under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, about four crore poor people of the country have got free treatment during their hospitalization. As a result, the poor have been able to save about 50,000 crore rupees. More than 30 lakh poor patients of Karnataka have also got the benefit of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and they have also saved more than Rs. 4000 crores.

Brothers and sisters,

For decades after independence, we have had such a situation that only the resourceful people had access to the benefits of development. For the first time, those who were economically weak have been linked to the benefits of development. Our government also stands with those who were left behind because of their poor financial condition. Crores of people, be it small farmers, traders, fishermen and street vendors, have started getting the benefits of the country's development for the first time. They are joining the mainstream of development.

Under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, about two lakh crore rupees has been transferred to the bank accounts of more than 11 crore farmers of the country. More than 55 lakh small farmers of Karnataka have also received about 10,000 crore rupees. Under the PM SVANidhi, 35 lakh street vendors of the country have received financial help. About two lakh street vendors of Karnataka have also benefited from this scheme.

Loans worth more than Rs 20 lakh crore have been given to small entrepreneurs across the country under the Mudra Yojana. Bank loans of about Rs two lakh crore have also been given to lakhs of small entrepreneurs of Karnataka.

Friends,

The double-engine government is making special efforts to improve the lives of our brothers and sisters in the coastal belt, villages around the ports and our fishermen. A little while back, Kisan Credit Cards were given to the friends from fisheries here. Necessary boats for deep sea fishing and modern vessels have also been provided.

For the first time, efforts are being made to increase the welfare and livelihood of fishermen, be it subsidy under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana or the facility of Kisan Credit Card to fishermen.

Today the foundation laying ceremony for the fishing harbor has also been held in Kulai. Our brothers and sisters associated with the fisheries sector were demanding this for years. When it is ready, many problems of fishermen will be solved. This project will help hundreds of fishermen families and many people will also get employment.

Friends,

The double-engine government is working day and night to fulfill the aspirations of the people of the country. The aspiration of the people of the country is like the order of the people for our government. It is the aspiration of the people of the country that India should have world class infrastructure. Today modern infrastructure is being developed in every nook and corner of the country.

It is the aspiration of the people of the country that more and more of our cities should be connected by metro connectivity. Due to the efforts of our government, the number of metro cities has quadrupled in the last eight years.

It is the desire of the people of the country that they should enjoy affordable air travel. So far, more than one crore passengers have traveled in airplanes under the UDAN scheme.

It is the aspiration of the people of the country that there should be a clean economy in India. Today digital payments are at a historic level and our innovations like BHIM-UPI are grabbing the attention of the world.

The people of the country today want the Internet which is fast and cheap and in every nook and corner of the country. Today, gram panchayats are being connected by laying about six lakh km of optical fiber.

The 5G facility is going to bring a new revolution in this field. I am glad that the double-engine government of Karnataka is also working to fulfill the needs and aspirations of the people at a rapid pace.

Friends,

India’s coastal line spreads over more than 7,500 kilometers. We have to take full advantage of this potential of the country. The Karavali Coast and Western Ghats here are also famous for tourism. I am told that the New Mangalore Port handles an average of 25,000 tourists per cruise season and it also includes a large number of foreign nationals. In short, there are many possibilities. As the power of the middle class is increasing in India, there are greater possibilities of cruise tourism in India.

When tourism grows, it is of great benefit to our cottage industries, artisans, village industries, street vendors, auto rickshaw drivers, taxi drivers and small sections of society. I am glad that New Mangalore Port is continuously adding new facilities to boost cruise tourism.

Friends,

When the Corona crisis began, I talked about turning disaster into opportunity. Today the country has shown this by turning disaster into opportunity. The GDP figures that came a few days ago are showing that the policies and decisions made by India during the Corona period were very important. Despite so many global disruptions last year, India exported goods worth $670 billion i.e. 50 lakh crore rupees. Overcoming every challenge, India made a new record of merchandise export of $418 billion i.e. 31 lakh crore rupees.

Today every sector related to the growth engine of the country is running at full capacity. The service sector is also moving towards rapid growth. The impact of PLI schemes is beginning to be visible on the manufacturing sector. The entire electronic manufacturing sector, including mobile phones, has grown manifold.

As much as the import of toys has decreased in three years, its export has increased almost as much. All these benefits are accruing to the coastal areas of the country, which have major ports like Mangalore, and which provide their resources for exporting Indian goods.

Friends,

With the efforts of the government, the country has also witnessed an increase in coastal traffic over the years. Due to increased facilities and resources at different ports of the country, coastal movement has become easier now. It is the effort of the government that port connectivity should be better and it should be accelerated. Therefore, more than 250 projects of railways and roads have been identified under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan which will help in seamless port connectivity.

Brothers and sisters,

Known for its valor and trade, this coastal region is full of enormous talents. Many entrepreneurial people of India are from here. Many beautiful islands and hills of India are in Karnataka itself. Many famous temples and pilgrimage centers of India are here. Today, as the country celebrates the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, I would also like to remember Rani Abbakka and Rani Chennabhairadevi. Their struggle to save India's soil and business from slavery was unprecedented. Today, these brave women are a great inspiration for India moving forward in the field of exports.

The way the people of Karnataka and our young comrades made the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign successful is also an extension of this rich tradition. I always feel inspired by this energy of patriotism and national resolve by coming to the Karavali region of Karnataka. May this energy seen in Mangaluru continue to brighten the path of development! With this hope, I wish you all the very best and many congratulations for these development projects.

Speak with me with full force:

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Thanks a lot.

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.

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DS/VK/AK