Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Nagpur on Sunday laid the foundation stone and inaugurated projects worth ₹75,000 crores during his around two and a half hours visit to the city.
After flagging off the Nagpur-Bilaspur Vande Bharat Express, Modi inaugurated the first phase of the ambitious Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Samruddhi Mahamarg at Zero Point of the Expressway near Waifal toll Naka, some 10 km from Nagpur.
The 520 km stretch of the 701 km long Samruddhi Mahamarg, was built as part of Phase- I of the project at a cost of ₹55,000 crore connecting Nagpur and Mumbai. This project is a significant step in achieving the Prime Minister’s goal of better infrastructure and connectivity throughout the nation.
Also Read: PM Modi flags off Nagpur-Bilaspur Vande Bharat Express in Maharashtra
After the inauguration, Modi congratulated chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for completing the project in a time-bound period that would be a game-changer in providing a major boost to the economic development of Maharashtra.
The 701 km expressway – being built at a cost of about ₹55,000 crore – is one of India`s longest expressways, passing through Maharashtra`s 10 districts and prominent urban regions of Amravati, Aurangabad, and Nashik.
The expressway will also help improve the connectivity of adjoining 14 other districts, thus helping in the development of about 24 districts of the state, including the regions of Vidarbha, Marathwada, and North Maharashtra. It will also connect to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, and tourist locations, like Ajanta Ellora Caves, Shirdi, Verul, Lonar, etc.
The new expressway would be a game-changer for the backward region of Vidarbha as the road will link to Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai within 8 hours from Nagpur.
After inaugurating the Samruddi Mahamarg, the Prime Minister also took a ride on the new Expressway for 10 minutes, along with Shinde and Fadnavis.
After flagging off the Vande Bharat Express, PM also laid the foundation stone of Phase- II of the rail project in Nagpur, to be developed at a cost of ₹6,700 crore.
PM Modi further laid the foundation stone for National Institute for One Health and inaugurated the Centre for Research, Management and Control of Haemoglobinopathies in Nagpur.
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According to the ministry of health and family welfare, these new institutes of medical excellence will further expedite the country’s efforts in enhancing health research to serve vulnerable populations in the country.
Later in the day, he will address a public gathering in Nagpur and he will lay the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Nagpur Railway Station and Ajni Railway Station, to be redeveloped at a cost of about ₹590 crore and ₹360 crore respectively.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of the project for pollution abatement of river Nag at Nagpur. The project – under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) – will be developed at a cost of ₹1,925 crore.
He will also dedicate the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET), Chandrapur to the Nation.
Further, as part of his schedule, PM Modi will inaugurate Goa’s second international airport at Mopa. The airport, built at a cost of ₹2,870 cr will begin operations starting January 5.