PM Modi launches metro rail projects for Ahmedabad, Surat

The after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off special trains from various states to Kevadiya, the Prime Minister on Monday, performed the bhoomi poojan ceremony of Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase-2 and Surat Metro Rail Project via video conferencing.

While speaking at the ceremony, PM Modi asserted that Ahmedabad and Surat are receiving very important gifts today. Metro will further strengthen the connectivity in these two major business centres of the country, he added.

Comparing his government`s performance with the previous government`s, the Prime Minister said the best example to see the difference between the approach of previous governments and work of current governments is the expansion of metro rail network across the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs `Bhoomi Poojan` of Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase-II and Surat Metro Rail Project via video conferencing. pic.twitter.com/bcm66aQSR6

"Before 2014, only 225 kilometres of the metro line became operational in 10-12 years. But in the last 6 years, over 450 kilometres of the metro network has become operational," said PM Modi.

In a veiled dig at Congress, he said, "Work is underway on over 1000 kilometres of metro network in 27 cities across the nation, as of now. There was a time when there was no modern thinking in the nation, regarding the metro network. There was no metro policy. As a result, there were different kinds of metro in different cities."

PM Modi then said that his government is developing cities` transport system like an integrated system which means that bus, metro, rail won`t ply as per their own design but work as a collective system, complementary to each other.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani and Governor Acharya Devvrat also attended the function.

Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2

It is a 28.2-km long project comprising of two corridors. Corridor-1 is 22.8 kilometre long and is from Motera Stadium to Mahatma Mandir. Corridor-2 is 5.4 kilometre long and is from GNLU to GIFT City.

The total completion cost of the Phase 2 project is Rs 5,384 crore.

Surat Metro

It is a 40.3-km long project and comprises two corridors. Corridor-1 is 21.61 kilometre long and is from Sarthana to Dream City. Corridor-2 is 18.74 kilometre long and is from Bhesan to Saroli.

The total completion cost of the project is Rs 12,020 crore.

The Metro projects will provide an environment friendly ‘Mass Rapid Transit System’ to these cities.