AHMEDABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the grand ceremony for the launch of the High Speed Rail project to sound the poll bugle for the Gujarat Assembly polls scheduled to be held later this year.
Modi, who was the State’s Chief Minister four times, said the Gujarat-Maharasthra economic zone that would come up along the High-Speed Rail corridor would create ‘massive’ job opportunities for local youngsters.
The ceremony was attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Japan has loaned Rs 88,000 crore at a 0.1 per cent interest rate for the bullet train project. “The country’s first bullet train coming up in Gujarat is a thing of immense happiness, but I am happier that an institute for advanced technology training for youth is coming up in Vadodara,” Modi said, addressing thousands gathered at the Sabarmati Railway Stadium.
The project’s launch date was meant to coincide not only with pitru paksha — a period considered auspicious by Hindus — but also escape the model code of conduct that is likely to come into force once the election dates are announced.
“Our focus is on high-speed productivity with high-speed connectivity. The productivity of a country is directly linked to its economic growth. The high-speed corridors would give a push to the country’s economy,” he said. On criticism that expensive technologies like the bullet train are for the rich, Modi said he believes technology is for all and must be used to benefit the common people.
Joint statement on
pakistan-based terror
Calling for a “zero-tolerance approach” to terrorism, India and Japan committed to cooperate in the fight against the crisis, including action against Pakistan-based LeT and JeM
India, Japan ink open sky agreement
The countries also signed an agreement to allow their airlines to operate unlimited flights between the two nations. Currently, only four airlines have direct flights between the countries
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the bullet train project’s ground-breaking ceremony has been done in 2017, the 70th year of Independence and all efforts will be made to complete it by 2022, the country’s 75th year of Independence.
Modi thanked Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe for making all efforts to provide loan to India at 0.1 per cent interest rate and both PMs expressed hope that they will again come together for the launch of the high-speed bullet train in 2022.
Abe, meanwhile, showered praise on his Indian counterpart for strengthening the relationship between the two countries. Modi also touched upon his government’s focus to have an integrated transport system with waterways, highways, high-speed trains and aviation sector becoming engines of growth. He also talked about benefits brought by the single tax regime, Goods and Services Tax, implemented in the country. “There is a 30 per cent increase in the distance covered by trucks after implementation of GST which means they have been able to transport goods faster,” Modi said.
Rajdhani Express train coach derails in Delhi
On a day when Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe launched the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project amid much fanfare, a coach of the Jammu Tawi-New Delhi Rajdhani Express derailed at the New Delhi railway station. No one was injured in the incident. The incident took place around 6 am when the train was entering the platform.
Working group to boost nuclear ties
Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe Thursday said they look forward to setting up a working group to boost cooperation in the civil-nuclear arena. They also reaffirmed their commitment to work together for India to become a full member in multilateral export control regimes such as the Nuclear Suppliers Group, among others.
15 key agreements signed
India and Japan Thursday signed 15 deals in key areas, including civil aviation, trade, science and technology, and skill development. The pact in the area of disaster risk management aims at cooperation and collaboration in the field of disaster risk reduction, an official statement said.