Governor of Maharashtra Shri Ramesh Bais Ji, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Ji, my Cabinet colleagues Piyush Goyal Ji, Ramdas Athawale Ji, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis Ji, Ajit Dada Pawar Ji, State Government Ministers Mangal Prabhat Ji, Deepak Kesarkar Ji, and all other dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen!

Greetings to all my brothers and sisters in Maharashtra!

Today, I have the honour of laying the foundation stone and inaugurating projects worth Rs 30,000 crores for Maharashtra and Mumbai. These projects will significantly enhance the connectivity of Mumbai and its surrounding areas. In addition to road and rail projects, there is also a major scheme for the skill development of the youth in Maharashtra, which will generate numerous job opportunities. You may have read about this in newspapers or seen it on TV. Just two to three weeks ago, the Central Government also approved the Vadhavan Port for Maharashtra. This Rs 76,000 crore project will create more than 10 lakh jobs in the region.

Friends, 

For the past month, Mumbai has witnessed a celebration amongst investors from Bharat and abroad. Every investor, big or small, has enthusiastically welcomed the third term of our government. People recognize that only the NDA government can provide stability. After taking the oath for the third time, I pledged that in this third term, the NDA government would work three times faster. Today, we are seeing this promise come to fruition.

Friends,

Maharashtra has a glorious history, a robust present, and a dream of a prosperous future. Maharashtra plays a significant role in building a developed Bharat. It possesses industrial strength, agricultural power, and a formidable financial sector. This power has established Mumbai as the financial hub of the country. My goal is to harness this power to make Maharashtra the world's biggest economic powerhouse and to transform Mumbai into the FinTech capital of the world. I aspire for Maharashtra to become Bharat's top state in terms of tourism. It boasts of magnificent forts that bear witness to the valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the enchanting beaches of Konkan, and the thrilling journeys through the Sahyadri hills. There are immense opportunities for conference tourism and medical tourism here. Maharashtra is poised to write a new chapter in Bharat's development, and we are all part of this journey. Today's programme is dedicated to these goals of the Mahayuti government.

Friends, 

The aspirations of 21st-century Bharat are currently at an all-time high. Nearly 25 years of this century have passed, and the people of our country are eager for rapid development, aiming to make Bharat a developed nation within the next 25 years. Mumbai in particular and Maharashtra in general have a significant role to play in this endeavour. Our goal is to improve the standard of living for everyone in Maharashtra and Mumbai. Therefore, we are making concerted efforts to enhance connectivity in the areas surrounding Mumbai. The Coastal Road and Atal Setu in Mumbai have now been completed. You will recall that during the construction of Atal Setu, there was much opposition and attempts to delay it. However, today, everyone can see its tremendous benefits. I have been informed that nearly 20,000 vehicles use it daily, saving an estimated 20-25 lakh rupees worth of fuel each day. Moreover, it now takes about 45 minutes less to reach Panvel, resulting in time savings and environmental benefits. With this approach, we are modernizing Mumbai's transport system. The expansion of the Mumbai Metro is also progressing rapidly. Ten years ago, Mumbai had only 8 km of metro line, whereas today it spans nearly 80 km. Additionally, work is underway on approximately 200 km of metro network in Mumbai.

Friends,

The transformation of Indian Railways is greatly benefiting Mumbai and Maharashtra. The redevelopment of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Nagpur, and Ajni stations is progressing swiftly. Today, new platforms have been inaugurated at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Lokmanya Tilak station. This will enable the operation of long trains with 24 coaches from these stations.

Friends, 

In the past decade, the length of national highways in Maharashtra has tripled. The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project exemplifies the harmony between development and environment. Today, work is also commencing on the twin tunnel project from Thane to Borivali, which will reduce the travel time between these two locations to just a few minutes. The NDA government is consistently striving to develop our pilgrimage sites and enhance the facilities available to pilgrims. We all know that currently, lakhs of devotees are participating in the Pandharpur Wari with full devotion. The NDA government has ensured that the journey from Pune to Pandharpur is smooth and that the devotees have access to adequate facilities. The work on approximately 200 Km stretch on Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi Marg has been completed, and the work on over 110 km stretch of Sant Tukaram Palkhi Marg has also been completed. Both these routes will soon be fully ready to serve the pilgrims. (PM makes some remarks in Marathi language.)

Brothers and sisters,

Such connectivity infrastructure is benefitting tourism, agriculture, and industrial sector, creating new employment opportunities. Improved connectivity also provides convenience and security to women and enhances their dignity. These initiatives by the NDA government are empowering the poor, farmers, women, and youth. The Mahayuti government of Maharashtra shares the same commitment. I am pleased that the Maharashtra government has pledged to provide skill training to 10 lakh youngsters every year. Scholarships are also given during the training under the Pradhan Mantri Yuva Karya Prashikshan Yojana.

Friends,

Skill development and large-scale employment are essential for Bharat. Our government is continuously working towards these goals. Over the past 4-5 years, despite facing a major crisis like COVID-19, Bharat has achieved record levels of employment. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India released a detailed report on employment, which states that approximately 8 crore new jobs have been created in the country in the last 3-4 years. These figures have silenced those spreading false narratives about employment. Such false narratives are detrimental to investment, infrastructure development, and Bharat’s progress. Every one of their policies aims to betray the youth and hinder employment. However, their true intentions are now being exposed, and the people of Bharat are wise and therefore are rejecting their lies and deceptions. Whenever a bridge is built, a railway track is laid, a road is constructed, or a local train coach is manufactured, employment opportunities are created. As the pace of infrastructure development increases in Bharat, so does the rate of job creation. With new investments in the coming times, these opportunities will only grow further.

Friends,

The NDA government’s development model prioritizes the deprived section of the society. We focus on those who have been at the bottom of the social ladder for decades. As soon as the new government was sworn in, we made significant decisions regarding pucca houses for the poor and took important steps for the welfare of farmers. So far, 4 crore poor have received pucca houses. In the coming years, 3 crore more poor families will receive pucca houses, including lakhs of poor, Dalit, backward, and tribal families in Maharashtra. A good home is not only a necessity for every family but also a matter of dignity. Therefore, we are working to fulfil the dream of a home for both the poor and the middle class living in cities.

Friends, 

We are committed to ensuring that street vendors lead dignified lives. The SVANidhi Yojana has been immensely beneficial in this regard. So far, 90 lakh loans have been sanctioned under this scheme, with about 13 lakh of these loans going to vendors in Maharashtra. In Mumbai alone, 1.5 lakh street vendors have benefitted from the SVANidhi Yojana. The support from banks through SVANidhi is strengthening their businesses, and studies indicate that those associated with the scheme have seen their monthly incomes increase by approximately 2,000 rupees, which translates to an additional 20,000-25,000 rupees annually.

Friends,

I would like to highlight another important aspect of the SVANidhi scheme. The recipients of these loans are diligently repaying them in full, reflecting the self-respect and integrity of my poor brothers and sisters. Remarkably, the beneficiaries of SVANidhi have conducted digital transactions worth Rs. 3.25 lakh crores till date. This not only empowers Digital India but also gives a new identity to our nation.

Friends, 

Maharashtra has significantly contributed to cultural, social, and national consciousness in Bharat. This land is home to the legacies of many great figures, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, Annabhau Sathe, Lokmanya Tilak, and Veer Savarkar. We must strive towards the harmonious society and strong nation envisioned by these illustrious individuals. It is crucial to remember that the path to prosperity lies in harmony and goodwill. With this sentiment, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you on these development projects. Thank you very much!

Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

Thank you very much. 

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

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DS/VJ/IG/AK