National
India can’t afford delay in infrastructure modernisation: Modi (Second Lead)
Udaipur, Aug 29 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India could no longer afford to delay modernisation of infrastructure if it was to scale new heights, and added that his government was committed to completing infrastructure projects in time.
Infrastructure played a huge role in the nation’s development but earlier governments and policy-makers often avoided such time-consuming projects involving large investments “as people often lose patience”, Modi said at a public meeting here.
“But, we know that if we have to take the nation to new heights, there is a pressing need to modernise our infrastructure,” Modi said.
“Be it rail, road, water or power supply, optical fibre network, waterways, or coastal connectivity, India will not benefit from any further delay in setting up this modern infrastructure,” he added.
The Prime Minister said that once everything was in place, it would bring many positive changes in people’s lives.
“For example, road projects entailing expenditure of Rs 9,000 crore being launched in Rajasthan will benefit farmers in taking their produce to markets of their choice. It will also enable a sick mother to get good healthcare, which may not be available in her village,” Modi said.
He was speaking at an event here to mark the inauguration of 12 National Highways projects entailing expenditure of Rs 5,610 crore and laying of foundation stones for another 11 projects costing Rs 9,490 crore.
He said these highways would not only help link Rajasthan with the outside world but also be gateways to progress.
Giving example of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Bajpayee’s Golden Quadrilateral project, Modi said it enabled farmers of Gujarat to take their produce to markets in Delhi within a day, which substantially increased their incomes.
He said road infrastructure was especially beneficial for Rajasthan, a big state with huge potential for tourism.
“We are committed to completing projects in a time-bound manner. We are trying to bring in a culture that we finish the works we start,” he said.
The Prime Minister said it took 11 years for a six-lane bridge over Chambal river, costing Rs 278 crore, to be completed.
“Compare it with projects, costing Rs 5,600 crore, which have been completed since 2014 and are being inaugurated now,” Modi said.
Modi said stuck or slow-paced projects harmed the economy as the cost spiralled manifold over the years. He said it took a lot of resources and efforts to revive a stuck project.
The construction of the Chambal bridge was stuck since 2006. Its inauguration marks the completion of the East-West corridor and it will now enable heavy vehicles to bypass Kota city.
Speaking on the occasion, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the central government planned to spend Rs 2 lakh crore in five years for constructing National Highways in Rajasthan.
He said all new road projects would be launched only after securing all due clearances for smooth execution.
The Minister said that after the Narendra Modi-led central government came to power in 2014, the number as well as length of National Highways in Rajasthan has doubled.
“When Rajasthan became a state, it had only 7,498 km of National Highways. In the last three years, the length has been doubled to 14,465 km,” he said.
“What could not be done in 50-60 years has been accomplished in three years of Modi government. Projects getting delayed or getting stuck is a thing of the past now,” Gadkari said.
He said the number of National Highways has increased from 35 to 85 and 44 big projects, costing around Rs 10,430 crore, have been started in the state.
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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