Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded the naming of the Ganga Expressway after the revered river Ganga and announced that the 594-km greenfield corridor connecting Prayagraj and Meerut will be extended to Haridwar in Uttarakhand.
Double-Engine Government's Vision
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the expressway, Modi said that the government would further work on a link expressway to Farrukhabad and connect it with other expressways. Calling it a reflection of the vision of the "double-engine government," Modi said that the project symbolises the blend of vikas (development) and virasat (heritage). He emphasised that rapid infrastructure development holds the key to accelerating the country's growth.
Speedy Completion
Hailing the speedy construction of the Ganga Expressway, Modi said that the project saw its completion in less than five years after its foundation stone was laid by him in December 2021. "A project for which the foundation stone is laid gets completed within a stipulated time frame. This is the style and pace of work of the double-engine government," he said.
Describing the expressway stretch as akin to a teertha, Modi said it would become a lifeline for Uttar Pradesh's development, opening up new economic opportunities. He added that the corridor would not only facilitate faster travel but also serve as a gateway for industrial growth and employment generation. "Gone are the days when construction of a single road took years. There was a time when projects would languish in files," he said.
Criticism of Previous Governments
In an apparent swipe at opposition parties, Modi said that foundation plaques used to be installed at the time of elections, but the project never materialised even as governments came and went. He squarely lashed out at previous governments for ignoring the interests of farmers who faced difficulties of storage and transportation. "Their problems would now be solved and they would get higher incomes," he said.
Economic Opportunities
Modi said that new industrial corridors would be developed along the Ganga Expressway, besides generating new employment opportunities for the youth and boosting the prospects of local and traditional products. "Previous government did not even dream of industrial corridors in various places, including Hardoi," he said.
The Prime Minister stated that Uttar Pradesh, which was earlier billed as a BIMARU state, was now striving to become a USD 1 trillion economy. "It is a huge target. And this requires equally big preparation," he said. "The state, which was earlier known because of exodus of people, was now getting recognised for organising investment summits," he added.
Strategic Strength
Modi said that Uttar Pradesh was taking a significant lead in the manufacture of semiconductors, which are crucial in these times of artificial intelligence. "The economic development of Uttar Pradesh is today becoming India's strategic strength as well," he said, adding that the state was developing because it ended old politics and created a new identity for itself. "There was a time when Uttar Pradesh was identified by its potholed roads. The same state is now home to the maximum number of expressways," he concluded.
