Mokama (Bihar), Oct 14 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modisaid today his government ensures the schemes launched by itare implemented within a time limit, unlike in the past whenprojects were announced "during election time" and forgottenlater.
Modi deplored "the thinking of many political leaders"that projects like roads were not meant for the poor. "We cannot imagine the extent to which this mindset has damaged thecountry."The prime minister was addressing a gathering afterlaunching development projects relating to highways and sewagetreatment in Mokama, about 100 km from Bihar capital Patna.
Bihar Governor Satyapal Malik, Chief Minister NitishKumar and Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Ram Vilas Paswanwere among those present at the programme.
Modi began his nearly 30-minute speech in Magahi dialectand praised the people of Mokama. He recalled the city'sconnection with the mythological warrior sage Parashuram.
He also recalled the contributions of poet Ramdhari SinghDinkar and Bihar's first Chief Minister Shri Krishna Singh,pointing that both of them hailed from Begusarai "just acrossthe Ganges".
Underscoring his government's commitment to boost inlandwater transport, Modi said during the British era, "when wehad excellent waterways, Mokama was known as 'mini Kolkata'.
We must revive the lost glory".
"My government is working tirelessly to provide betterroad, rail and internet connectivity and power connections andpotable water to all. We have launched many schemes with thesespecific targets in mind," he said.
The prime minister said his government "launches schemeskeeping a roadmap ready" and "ensures implementation withintime limit", unlike past regimes, "which were in the habit ofannouncing projects during election time, only to forget aboutthese later".
Extending his greetings for Diwali on October 19, andChhath - Bihar's most celebrated festival which falls six dayslater, Modi said "once the Ganges is cleansed of pollutants,for which we have launched a special project called 'NamamiGange', it would be a real delight to observe the austeritiesof Chhath".
Modi lauded Gadkari, who holds the surface and transportministry, for expanding India's road network. He also had aword of praise for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar "for hiscooperation and his concern for the initiatives taken by theCentre".
Kumar urged Modi to undertake key projects like a bridgeparallel to the 'Vikramshila Setu' over the Ganges inBhagalpur and a direct road connecting Buxar with Varanasi,which is the prime minister's parliamentary constituency.
He also recalled his connection with Mokama, which formsa part of the Barh Lok Sabha seat, which he has represented anumber of times in the parliament.
This was Modi's first Bihar visit since the BJP return tothe coalition with the JD(U) in Bihar in July this year.
Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, a BJPleader, said this was the "first time in 27 years when thesame dispensation rules both at the Centre and in Bihar.""To use an expression of the prime minister, Bihar nowhas two engines to propel it on the path towards progress,"Sushil Modi said.
Earlier in the day, the prime minister attended afunction held to celebrate 100 years of establishment of PatnaUniversity followed by a brief, unscheduled visit to thenewly-opened Bihar Museum. PTI NACABH.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.