PM Modi, Kochi Water Metro | Photo: Mathrubhumi News
Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off India's first Water Metro that connects 10 islands around Kochi through battery-operated electric hybrid boats for seamless connectivity with the city. It is a unique urban mass transit system with the same experience and ease of travel as that of the conventional metro system.
Speaking at the event, Modi congratulated the people of Kerala for the novel projects and said, “Today marked the beginning of several projects for the connectivity and development of the state. Kerala is a land of vigilant, understanding and knowledgeable people.”
He said the central government lays emphasis on cooperative federalism and believes that if the states develop, it will help in the development of the country.
"As Kerala develops, India will develop faster," Modi said at an event held at the Central Stadium here.
Despite those global headwinds, India has been globally seen as the 'Vibrant Spot of Development', Modi, who is on a two-day visit to the southern state since Monday, said. Most public transportation systems in the country, including the Kochi Water Metro, are made in India, he added.
The PM said there were several reasons behind the world's belief in India and these were a decisive government at the Centre, unparalleled investments in the infrastructure development by it, investments for reaping demographic dividend, skilling of youth and the central government's commitment for 'Ease of Living' and 'Ease of Doing Business'
Earlier, the prime minister had flagged off Kerala’s Vande Bharat Express, which is an indigenously manufactured, semi-high speed and self-propelled train set equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities, including CCTV surveillance.
Following which, Modi travelled to the Central Stadium for the inauguration of the water metro and laid the foundation stone for the country's first Digital Science Park.
During the event, Modi also laid the foundation of various rail projects including the redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Varkala Sivagiri railway stations; comprehensive development of Thiruvananthapuram area including Nemon and Kochuveli and increasing of sectional speed of Thiruvananthapuram-Shoranur section.
Apart from the water metro, rail electrification of the Dindigul-Palani-Palakkad section was also dedicated by the prime minister, who will depart from Kerala to Gujarat in the afternoon.
With PTI/ANI inputs
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