Better connectivity with Bullet Trains will lead India to progress: PM

Ahmedabad: Underlining the importance of better connectivity in a nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the dream of ‘New India’ could well be realised with endeavours like Bullet Trains.

“Better connectivity will lead to progress. Even the America could only prosper if its railways are better connected,” the PM stated, addressing the gathering at the foundation laying ceremony of the first Bullet Train of India.

The Prime Minister also assured that this project will just not focus on speed but also on employment generation. “This Bullet Train project will not only give’ Raftaar (Speed) to the country, but will also bring ‘Rozgaar’ (Employment) for its people,” said PM Modi, who also thanked Japan, calling it India’s true friend, for providing the country with the best technology for the project.

Also Read: Shiv Sena criticises bullet train project, calls it an expensive dream

Emphasising on the government’s flagship scheme of ‘Make in India’, PM Modi said, “We might be importing the technology from Japan, but the trains would completely be ‘made in India’. He further added, “Our railway network is so huge that number of people travelling in trains every week in India is equal to Japan's total population.”

“If one says take loan and return it in 50 years, is it believable? But Japan is such a friend, they gave us loan of 88,000 crore at 0.1 per cent interest,” stated the Indian Premier adding that if technology is used to empower the poor, India can win the fight against poverty.

Bullet train—Symbol of ‘New India’:

The Indian Prime Minister said that Bullet train is the symbol of ‘New India’.

“I thank my friend Shinzo Abe on behalf of people of Gujarat, India and wish that on 75 years on India's independence around the year 2022-23, wish that both PM Shinzo Abe and I inaugurate the Bullet Train,” he said.

My friend Abe took personal interest and assured that there should be no glitches in the project, said PM Modi.

You may also Read: Abe greets Dear Friend India with ‘Namaskar’;Gives Jai Japan-Jai India slogan

What else he said:

• Transport system is of prime importance for a nation's development.
• Now next generation growth will happen at places where there are high speed corridors.

Taking umbrage of the criticisms made by opposition parties, the Prime Minister also took a dig at them, stating that those who were attacking government in the name of Bullet Train are now asking the need of bringing it in India.

“I was questioned when will India have bullet train? Now, when the project has been launched they are again questioning what the need is,” Modi said.