Maharashtra Governor Shri Ramesh Bais ji, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ji, my colleagues in the Union Cabinet, Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis ji and Ajit Pawar ji, Dilip ji, other ministers, MPs, MLAs, brothers and sisters!

August is a month of celebration and revolution. I feel fortunate to be in Pune at the beginning of this revolutionary month.

Indeed, Pune has played a significant role in India's independence movement. Pune has given many revolutionaries, freedom fighters, including Bal Gangadhar Tilak ji, to the country.  Today is also the birth anniversary of Lokshahir Anna Bhau Sathe, making this day very special for all of us. Anna Bhau Sathe was a great social reformer and was influenced by the ideas of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Even today, a large number of students and scholars do research on his literature. Anna Bhau Sathe's works and teachings continue to inspire all of us.

Friends,

Pune is a vibrant city that drives the nation's economy and fulfils the dreams of youths across the country. This role is going to be further strengthened by the projects undertaken in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad today. The foundation stones and inaugurations of projects worth about Rs 15,000 crore have taken place today. Thousands of families have received pucca houses, and a modern plant has been set up to convert waste into wealth. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Pune residents and citizens for these projects.

Friends,

Our government is deeply committed to improving the quality of life of the professionals, especially the middle class living in the cities. When the quality of life improves, the development of the city also accelerates. Our government is constantly working to improve the quality of life in our cities like Pune. Before I came here, another section of Pune Metro has been inaugurated. I still remember when the work for Pune Metro started, I had the opportunity to lay its foundation stone, and Devendra ji described it in a very delightful manner. In these past 5 years, approximately 24 kilometers of metro network has been established.

Friends,

We must modernize public transportation if we have to elevate the living standards of people in Indian cities. That is why we are consistently expanding the metro network, building new flyovers, and emphasizing on reducing the number of red lights. Until 2014, India had less than 250 kilometers of metro network, with a majority of it in Delhi-NCR. Now, the country boasts more than 800 kilometers of metro network. Apart from this, work is going on for an additional one thousand kilometers. In 2014, metro networks existed in only 5 cities, while today metro network is operational in 20 cities across the country. Apart from Pune, Maharashtra is also witnessing metro expansions in Mumbai and Nagpur. These metro networks are becoming the lifelines of modern Indian cities. Expanding the metro in cities like Pune is crucial not only for providing efficient transportation but also for protecting the environment and reducing pollution. That is why our government is working tirelessly to expand the metro network.

Brothers and sisters,

Improving the quality of life in cities also heavily relies on maintaining cleanliness and sanitation. There was a time when developed countries were praised for having clean cities, and now we are striving to achieve the same for Indian cities. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) goes beyond just building toilets; it places significant emphasis on waste management as well. Huge mountains of garbage have become a huge problem in our cities.  As you know, where the metro depot has been built in Pune, it was previously known as Kothrud garbage dumping yard. Efforts are underway on a mission mode to remove such mountains of garbage. Additionally, we are working on the principle of ‘Waste to Wealth’, where we aim to convert waste into useful resources. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Waste to Energy Plant is an excellent project in this regard. It generates electricity from waste. With the electricity generated here, the corporation will also be able to meet its needs. This means the problem of pollution will be reduced, and the municipal corporation will also save on costs.

Friends,

Since independence, industrial development in Maharashtra has contributed significantly to India's overall industrial growth. To further boost industrial development in Maharashtra, modern infrastructure is essential. Therefore, the amount of investment our government is making in infrastructure in Maharashtra is unprecedented. Currently, large expressways, new railway routes, and airports are being constructed here. The expenditure on railway development is 12 times more than before 2014. Various cities in Maharashtra are being connected to the economic hubs of neighbouring states. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail will benefit both Gujarat and Maharashtra. The Delhi-Mumbai Economic Corridor will link Maharashtra with Madhya Pradesh and other northern states. The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor will significantly improve rail connectivity between Maharashtra and northern India. Moreover, the transmission line network linking Maharashtra with neighbouring states like Telangana and Chhattisgarh will accelerate the growth of industries in Maharashtra. Oil and gas pipelines, the Aurangabad Industrial City, the Navi Mumbai Airport, and the Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Park have the potential to give a new impetus to the economy of Maharashtra.

Friends,

Our government is running with the mantra of the development of the state, which in turn contributes to the development of the country. When Maharashtra progresses, India progresses, and when India develops, Maharashtra will also be benefited. Nowadays, discussions about India's progress and development are taking place all around the world. Maharashtra, and particularly Pune, is also reaping the benefits of this development. Over the past 9 years, India has created a new identity in the world in terms of innovation and start-ups. Just 9 years ago, there were only a few hundred start-ups in India, and now we have crossed the mark of 100,000 start-ups. This ecosystem of start-ups has flourished because of the expansion of digital infrastructure. Pune has played a significant historical role in laying the foundation of digital infrastructure in India. Cheap data, affordable phones, and internet connectivity reaching every village have strengthened this sector. Today, India is among the countries rolling out 5G services at the fastest pace in the world. In every sector, be it fintech, biotech, agritech, our young talent is excelling. Pune is reaping immense benefits from this progress.

Friends,

On one hand, we are witnessing all-round development in Maharashtra. On the other hand, we are also observing the developments in the neighbouring state of Karnataka. Bengaluru is such a significant IT hub and a centre for global investors. It was essential for Bengaluru and Karnataka to witness rapid progress during this time. However, the government which was formed there on the basis of promises, it has led to adverse consequences in a short span of time, which the entire country is witnessing and is worried about. When a party empties the government's treasury for its hidden selfish interests, it is the people of the state who suffer the most, and it raises serious questions about the future of our youth. While this may help the party form a government, it puts the future of the people at risk. The situation is such that the Karnataka government itself admits that its coffers are empty and it lacks funds for Bengaluru's development and for the progress of Karnataka. Brothers, this is a matter of great concern for our country. We are also witnessing a similar situation in Rajasthan, where the burden of debt is increasing, and developmental projects are being stalled.

Friends,

For the progress and development of the country, policy, determination, and dedication are equally crucial. The policies, intentions, and dedication of those running the government and the system decide whether there will be development or not. For example, there is a plan to provide pucca houses to the poor. The government that was there before 2014 ran two schemes in ten years to provide houses to the urban poor, and under these schemes, only 8 lakh houses were constructed throughout the country in a decade. However, the condition of these houses was so bad that most of the urban poor refused to take them. Now you imagine, if the person living in the slum also refuses to take that house then how bad that house would be.  You can imagine more than 2 lakh houses were constructed during the time of the UPA government that no one was willing to take. In Maharashtra too, more than 50,000 such houses built at that time were lying vacant. It is a waste of money and they were not concerned about the problems of the people.

Brothers and sisters,

In 2014, you gave us the opportunity to serve. After coming to power, we started working with the right intentions and also changed policies. In the past 9 years, our government has constructed over 4 crore pucca houses for the poor in villages and cities. Among them, more than 75 lakh houses have been built for urban poor. We have brought transparency in the construction of these new houses and improved their quality. Our government has done another significant work. Most of the houses that the government is building and giving to the poor are being registered in the names of women. These houses are worth several lakhs of rupees. In the past 9 years, there are crores of sisters in the country who have become ‘Lakhpati’; they have become ‘Lakhpati Didi’. For the first time, property is being registered in their names. I congratulate all those brothers and sisters who have received their own homes today. I extend my heartfelt wishes to all of them. And this year's Ganesh Utsav is going to be magnificent for them.

Brothers and sisters,

Be it poor or middle class family, Modi's guarantee is to fulfil every dream. When one dream comes true, hundreds of new resolutions are born from the womb of that success. These resolutions become the greatest strength in a person's life. We are concerned about your children, your present, and your future generations.

Friends,

Power comes and goes, but society and the country remain. Therefore, our effort is to make your today as well as your tomorrow better. The commitment to building a developed India is the manifestation of this sentiment. For this, we all must come together and work unitedly. Here in Maharashtra, so many different parties have come together with the same goal. The aim is that with everyone's participation, Maharashtra can progress rapidly and achieve better results. Maharashtra has always showered us with love and blessings. With this wish that this affection will continue, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you for the development projects.

Join me and say Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Bharat Mata ki – Jai!

Thanks!

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

***

DS/LP/VK/AK