Bengaluru, 13 November (HS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various development projects worth more than Rs 15,600 crore in Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka. On the occasion, he launched projects related to new railway and metro connectivity and flagged off the new Vande Bharat Express connecting Karnataka with Goa.

The Prime Minister said that infrastructure plays a vital role in the development journey of any country. Improved connectivity creates new opportunities for progress, employment and industry. When the benefits of development reach every section of society, the fight against poverty becomes stronger. This, he said, is reflected in the fact that nearly 50 crore citizens have emerged from extreme poverty in recent years.

Referring to the new Pink Line of the Bengaluru Metro, PM Modi said it would improve access to several educational institutions, including the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore), as well as major business, technology and commercial hubs. This would make commuting more convenient for millions of people while saving them time and money. He said that after the Delhi-NCR and Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Bengaluru had become the third city in the country to have a Metro network extending beyond 100 kilometres. In 2014, the Namma Metro network covered just 17 kilometres, but it has now expanded to more than 100 kilometres.

Highlighting the modernisation of the Railways, PM Modi said Indian Railways was moving beyond its colonial mindset and building a new legacy with a distinct identity of its own. Vande Bharat trains and Amrit Bharat stations were examples of this transformation. More than 60 railway stations in Karnataka are being modernised, including Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road. Special facilities are being provided at these stations for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

He said the railway budget had increased several times over the past 10 to 12 years, while the budgetary allocation for railway projects in Karnataka had risen ninefold. The state has now received four redeveloped Amrit Bharat stations, along with two projects involving track doubling and electrification. A few days ago, Karnataka received its first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, and now another Vande Bharat service connecting the state with Goa has been dedicated to the public. The new service will offer passengers from Mangaluru and the wider coastal region of Karnataka a new experience of semi-high-speed rail travel.

Emphasising the importance of energy security, the Prime Minister said the ongoing conflict in Iran and the Gulf region had reminded the world of the significance of securing energy supplies. Over the past decade, India has taken several steps, including increasing the production of petrol, diesel and LPG, building crude oil reserves, expanding solar, hydropower and wind energy capacity, and achieving near-complete electrification of the railway network. These efforts, he said, had enabled the country to face challenging circumstances with greater resilience.

PM Modi said the Central Government was continuously working to increase the savings of the middle class and put more disposable income in their hands. As part of these efforts, annual income of up to Rs 12 lakh has been exempted from income tax. Changes have also been made to TDS rules to benefit senior citizens and those earning rental income. Next-generation GST reforms have been introduced to reduce the prices of everyday commodities. GST has also been removed from individual health and life insurance policies, making insurance more affordable.

The Prime Minister said the projects launched in Karnataka would not only accelerate the state's development but also play an important role in building a Viksit Bharat. The government's endeavour, he said, was to boost the savings of the middle class, strengthen its purchasing power and enable people to fulfil their families' aspirations while contributing to the country's economic progress.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar