PM Modi inaugurates redeveloped Gandhinagar station, other development projects in Gujarat

Among the works Modi inaugurated via video link is the redeveloped Vadnagar railway station in his home state

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the new redeveloped railway station in Gandhinagar is a "revelation of changing mindset with regard to infratructure" in the country as in the past "class-based discrimination in infrastructure building was encouraged". He also said that it is "useless talk" to say that such modern infrastructure is only meant for a few elites, people from all classes should get such facilities.

Modi said this while inaugurating projects worth over Rs 1,100 crore including the swanky Gandhinagar railway station, several attractions at Science City in Ahmedabad, among others. He also flagged the first train virtually started from Gandhinagar to Varanasi. Modi hailed it as a service that connect "land of Somnath (temple) to land of Vishwanath (temple in Varanasi).

After inaugurating the station virtually from Delhi, Modi said in his speech, "Friends, the new railway station in Gandhinagar is a revelation of changing mindset with regard to infrastructure. For a long time in India, class-discrimination was encouraged in infrastructure development. I want to tell you that, people in Gujarat know it, how when I served the state (as chief minister), we modernised our bus stations on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. We developed many of such of bus station and brought airport-like facilities. I told my officers in Delhi to go and see these stations. I asked them why can't we develop our railway station like them...the way airports and bus stations in Gujarat have developed in the same way Indian railway stations are also getting developed."

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The prime minister said that "The requirement of 21st century India can't be fulfilled through the ways of 20th century. That is why railways needed reforms through a new approach. We worked to develop railways not only as a service but as an asset, the result of which can be seen today....today, the image of Indian railways and its reputation are improving. Safety, speed, cleanliness and facilities have improved. The speed of trains will increase after the operationalization of dedicated freight corridors in the coming days."

Modi inaugurates revamped station he sold tea!

The PM also inaugurated the revamped railway station in Vadnagar in Mehsana district where he is said to have sold tea during his childhood. In his speech, Modi didn't speak much of his hometown but said that he has ample memories connected with the railway station. Modi also flagged off Gandhinagar-Varetha MEMU train.

Since Vadnagar station falls under heritage circuit, the station has been developed into a "heritage style building" at a cost of Rs 8.5 crore by Western Railways and tourism department. The station is located about 100 km from Ahmedabad in Mehsana district where his father Damodardas Modi ran a tea stall.

"The new station looks attractive. Vadnagar has better railway connectivity now as it is part of the Vadnagar-Modhera-Patan heritage circuit which has been converted to broad gauge and electrified," Modi said after inaugurating it virtually from Delhi.

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