Text of PM’s address at the inauguration/ laying of foundation stone of National Highway Projects in Gurugram, Haryana

Long live Mother India.

Long live Mother India.

Long live Mother India. 

Governor of Haryana Bandaru Dattatreya ji, its hard-working Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Lal ji, my senior colleagues at the Center Mr. Nitin Gadkari ji, Rao Inderjit Singh, Krishna Pal Gurjar ji, Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana Dushyant ji, State President of BJP and my colleagues in Parliament. Comrade Naib Singh Saini ji, all other dignitaries, and my dear brothers and sisters present in large numbers! 

I was just seeing on the screen in front of me, millions of people in every corner of the country connected to our program through modern technology connectivity. There was a time when programs were organized from Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi and the country used to connect. Times have changed, programs take place in Gurugram, the country gets involved. Haryana is showing this potential. Today the country has taken another important step towards modern connectivity. I am happy that today I have got the opportunity to dedicate the Dwarka Expressway to the country. More than Rs 9 thousand crores have been spent on this expressway. From today, the traffic experience between Delhi-Haryana will change forever. This modern expressway will work to shift gears not only in vehicles but also in the lives of the people of Delhi-NCR. I wish the people of Delhi-NCR and Haryana all the best for this modern expressway. 

Friends, 

Earlier governments used to make some small plan, organize a small program and keep beating it for five years. At the same pace with which the BJP government is working, the time for laying the foundation stone and inauguration is running out, days are running out. In the year 2024 itself, the people here are more intelligent. You listen, in 2024 itself, that is, even three months of 2024 have not yet been completed. In such a short time, projects worth Rs 10 lakh crore have either been laid or inaugurated. And whatever I am saying, I am only discussing those projects in which I myself have been involved. Apart from that, what my ministers and our Chief Ministers have done is different. And you see, in the last 5-5 years you would never have heard or seen the era before 2014, just remember. Even today, in a single day, more than 100 projects worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore have been either inaugurated or the foundation stone laid for the entire country. These include development works of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh in the south, development works of Haryana and UP in the north, projects of Bihar and Bengal in the east, and development projects worth thousands of crores of rupees for Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan in the west. . In the inauguration today, the length of Amritsar-Bhatinda-Jamnagar corridor in Rajasthan will be increased by 540 kilometers. The development of Bengaluru Ring Road will reduce the traffic problems there to a great extent. I congratulate millions of citizens of all states, from East to West, North to South, for so many development schemes. 

Friends, 

There is only difference of thinking between problem and possibility. And converting problems into possibilities, this is Modi's guarantee. Dwarka Expressway itself is a great example of this. Where Dwarka Expressway has been constructed today, there was a time when people used to avoid coming here after dusk. Even the taxi drivers used to refuse that they should not come here. This entire area was considered unsafe. But, today many big companies are coming here and setting up their projects. This area is becoming one of the fastest developing areas of NCR. This expressway will improve connectivity to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. This will improve the integration of NCR and will give impetus to economic activities here.

And friends, 

When Dwarka Expressway will connect with Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, a new chapter will begin. This corridor will provide a new energy to industry and exports throughout Western India. Today I will also appreciate the promptness shown by the Haryana Government and especially the Chief Minister Manohar Lal ji in the construction of this expressway. The way Manohar Lal ji has been working day and night for the development of Haryana, he has created a large network of modern infrastructure in the state. And Manohar Lal ji and I are very old friends, we used to work together even when it was the era of sleeping on carpets. And Manohar Lal ji had a motorcycle, so he used to ride the motorcycle, I used to sit behind. It used to originate from Rohtak and stop at Gurugram. This was our frequent trip to Haryana on motorcycle. And I remember at that time we used to come to Gurugram on motorcycles, the roads were small, there were so many problems. Today I am happy that we are together and your future is also together. The basic mantra of Developed Haryana-Developed India is being continuously strengthened by the State Government of Haryana under the leadership of Manohar ji. 

Friends, 

India of the 21st century is an India of big vision. This is an India of big goals. Today's India cannot compromise on the pace of progress. And you people have known me very well, recognized me and understood me also. You must have seen that neither I can think small, nor do I dream small, nor do I make small resolutions. Whatever I have to do, I want it big, I want it huge, I want it fast. Because I want to see India as a developed India in 2047, friends. You have to work hard for the bright future of your children.            

Friends, 

To increase this pace, we started infrastructure development work in Delhi-NCR with a holistic vision. We set a target to complete big projects within the stipulated time frame. Be it Dwarka Expressway, construction of Peripheral Expressway... Eastern Peripheral Expressway... Delhi Meerut Expressway... many such big projects have been completed by our government. And amidst the 2-year crisis of Covid, we have been able to move the country forward so fast. More than 230 kilometers of new metro lines have been started in Delhi-NCR in the last 10 years. The construction work of the International Airport in Jewar is progressing at a fast pace. Projects like 'DND Sohna Spur' are also in the final stages of construction. These projects will not only make traffic easier, but will also reduce the pollution problem of Delhi-NCR. 

Friends, 

Creation of modern infrastructure in developing India and reducing poverty in the country, both are interconnected. When expressways go through rural areas, when villages are connected by good roads, many new opportunities reach people's doorsteps in villages. Earlier, village people used to go to the city in search of any new opportunity. But now, due to cheap data and digital infrastructure of connectivity, new possibilities are being born in the villages themselves. When hospitals, toilets, tap water and houses are built at record speed, even the poorest benefit from the country's development. When infrastructure like colleges, universities and industries grow, it brings countless opportunities for youth to progress. Due to many such efforts, 25 crore people have been able to come out of poverty in the last 10 years. And with the power of this progress of the people, we have become the fifth largest economy from the 11th largest economy. 

Friends, 

This rapid infrastructure construction work in the country will equally quickly make India the third largest economic power in the world. And this will create more employment and self-employment opportunities. To build infrastructure of this scale, a large number of engineers and workers are required to build highways and expressways. Industries like cement and steel get a boost, a large number of youth work there also. Today, industrial corridors are being built along these expressways. New companies, new factories are bringing lakhs of jobs for skilled youth. Apart from this, having good roads also gives impetus to two wheeler and four wheeler industry. This clearly shows how many new employment opportunities the youth are getting today and how much strength the country's manufacturing sector is getting. 

Friends, 

If anyone has the biggest problem with these development works worth lakhs of crores of rupees in the country, it is the Congress and its arrogant alliance. He has lost sleep. So many development works and he is talking about one, then Modi does 10 more. They do not understand whether work can be done so fast. And hence now they no longer have the power to discuss development issues. And that's why they are saying that Modi is doing work worth lakhs of crores of rupees because of the elections. The country has changed so much in 10 years. But, the views of Congress and its friends have not changed. The number of his glasses is still the same - 'All Negative'! 'All negative'! Negativity and only negativity, this has become the character of Congress and Indi alliance. These are the people who ran the government only on election announcements. In 2006, he had announced to build 1 thousand kilometer expressway under the National Highway Development Project. But after making the announcement, these people entered the nest and remained sitting with folded hands. The Eastern Peripheral Expressway was talked about in 2008. But, our government completed this in 2018. The work of Dwarka Expressway and Urban Extension Road was also pending for 20 years. Our double engine government resolved all the issues and completed every project. 

Today, whatever work our government lays the foundation stone of, it works equally hard to complete it on time. And then we do not see whether there are elections or not. Today you see... the villages of the country have been connected with millions of kilometers of optic fiber cables. Whether there are elections or not. Today, airports are being built even in small cities of the country, whether there are elections or not. Today, roads have been constructed in every village of the country, whether there are elections or not. We know the value of every penny of the tax payer, and that is why we have completed the schemes within the stipulated budget and within the stipulated time.

Earlier infrastructure was announced to win elections. Now in elections there is talk of completion of infrastructure works. This is the new India. Earlier there were delays, now there are deliveries. Earlier there was delay, now there is development. Today we are focusing on building 9 thousand kilometer high speed corridor in the country. Out of this, about 4 thousand kilometers of high speed corridor has been completed. Till 2014, only 5 cities had metro facility, today 21 cities have metro facility. These tasks require long planning and hard work day and night. This work is done with the vision of development. These things happen when the intentions are right. This pace of development will increase manifold in the next 5 years. The pits which Congress had dug for seven decades are now being filled rapidly. In the next 5 years, work is going to be done to build a tall building on this foundation. And this is Modi's guarantee. 

Friends, 

I congratulate all of you very much for this development. You, my dream is that our country should remain developed till 2047. You agree...the country should develop...should it happen or not. Should our Haryana develop? Our Gurugram should develop. This is our Manesar which should be developed. Every corner of India should be developed. Every village of India should be developed. So for that celebration of development, come with me, take out your mobile phones… turn on the flashlight of your mobile phone and invite yourself to this celebration of development. There are people with mobile phones all around, even on the stage… everyone who has a mobile phone should have a flash light on their mobile phone. This is a celebration of this development, this is a resolution for development. This is a resolution to work hard for the bright future of your future generations, a resolution to work hard with all your heart. Speak with me-               

Long live Mother India.

Long live Mother India.

Long live Mother India. 

Thank you very much!