PM dedicates Rajkot International Airport to the nation at Rajkot in Gujarat
Inaugurates multiple development
projects worth over Rs 860 crores
“Rajkot is recognized as the growth engine of Saurashtra”
“I always try to repay the debt that I owe to Rajkot”
“We came with a guarantee of ‘Sushasan’ and we are fulfilling it”
“Both neo-middle class and middle class are the government’s priority”
“Expansion of air services has given new heights to India’s aviation sector”
“Ease of living and quality of life is among the top priorities for the
government”
“Today, the RERA law is preventing lakhs of people from being robbed of their
money”
“Today, inflation is increasing at the rate of 25-30 percent in our neighboring
countries. But this is not the case in India”
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi dedicated to the
nation, Rajkot International Airport and multiple development projects worth
over Rs 860 crores in Rajkot, Gujarat today. The projects include Sauni Yojana
Link 3 Package 8 and 9, upgradation of Dwarka Rural Water Supply and Sanitation
(RWSS), conservation, restoration & development of Uparkot Fort Phase I
& II; construction of a water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, and
flyover bridge among others. The Prime Minister also took a walkthrough of the
terminal building of the newly inaugurated Rajkot International Airport.
Addressing
the gathering, the Prime Minister said that today is a huge day not only for
Rajkot but the entire Saurashtra region. He paid tributes to those who suffered
losses due to natural calamities in the region such as a cyclone and the recent
floods. The Prime Minister remarked that the government and the people have
faced the crisis together and assured that those affected are being
rehabilitated with the assistance of the state government. He also mentioned
that the central government is providing every possible support to the state
government.
The
Prime Minister said that now Rajkot is recognized as the growth engine of
Saurashtra. He said despite its industry, culture and cuisine, the need for the
International Airport was felt which has been met today. The Prime Minister
recalled that Rajkot chose him as MLA for the first time and said that the city
has taught him a lot. “The debt from Rajkot is always there and I always try to
reduce that”, he added.
Referring
to the airport inaugurated today, the Prime Minister said that apart from ease
of travel, industries of the region will be hugely benefited from the airport.
The Prime Minister said that Rajkot has realized the vision of ‘Mini Japan’
that he saw as the new Chief Minister. He said in the shape of the Airport,
Rajkot has received a powerhouse that will give it new energy and flight.
Speaking
about the Sauni Yojna under which various projects have been inaugurated today,
the Prime Minister said that the completion of projects will lead to water
supply for drinking and irrigation to dozens of villages in the region. The
Prime Minister congratulated the people of Rajkot for the development projects
of today.
In
the last 9 years, the Prime Minister said that the central government has
worked towards making the lives of every social class and region easier. “We
have guaranteed ‘Sushasan’ or good governance and we are also accomplishing it
today”, the Prime Minister said, “Be it the poor, dalits, tribals or the
backward class, we have always worked towards improving their lives.”
Underlining that the levels of poverty in the country are reducing at a very
fast rate, the Prime Minister cited a recent report which states that 13.5
crore citizens have come out of poverty in the last 5 years and said that these
people are emerging as a neo-middle class in the country. Therefore, the Prime
Minister said, both the neo-middle class and the middle class are the
government’s priority encapsulating the entire middle class.
The
Prime Minister dwelled on the middle classes' long pending demand of the past
about connectivity. He listed the steps taken in the last 9 years to improve
connectivity. In 2014, only 4 cities had Metro Network, today Metro network has
reached more than 20 cities in India. Modern trains like Vande Bharat are
running on 25 routes; the number of airports have more than doubled from 70 in
2014 during this period. “Expansion of air services has given new heights to
India’s aviation sector. Indian companies are purchasing aircrafts worth crores
of rupees”, he said. He also informed that Gujarat is moving forward in the
direction of building aircrafts.
“Ease
of living and quality of life is among the top priorities for the government”,
the Prime Minister remarked. Recalling the inconveniences faced by people in
the past, the Prime Minister mentioned the long queues at hospitals and utility
payment centers, insurance and pension-related problems, and hassles in filing tax
returns. He further stated that all these issues have been tackled by the
Digital India campaign. He mentioned the ease of mobile banking and online
filing for tax returns and also underlined that the returns are transferred
directly into the bank accounts in a short time.
Talking
about the importance of housing, the Prime Minister said “We took care of the
housing needs of the poor and also fulfilled the middle class’s dream of
a house.” He mentioned a special subsidy of up to 18 lakh Rs under the
PM Awas Yojna for the middle class. More than 6 lakh families have benefitted,
including 60 thousand in Gujarat, he informed.
The
Prime Minister touched upon the fraud that took place in the name of housing
and mentioned that the possession of the house was not given for many years
during previous governments due to the absence of law. He further added that it
is the present government which enacted the RERA law and safeguarded the
interests of the people. “Today, the RERA law is preventing lakhs of people
from being robbed of their money”, he added.
The
Prime Minister said that in the past inflation rate had touched 10 per cent. He
said that the current government kept inflation under control despite the
pandemic and the war. “Today, inflation is increasing at the rate of 25-30
percent in our neighboring countries. But this is not the case in India. We
have been trying to control inflation with full sensitivity and will continue
to do so in the future”, he said.
The
Prime Minister underlined that along with saving the expenses of the poor and
the middle class, the government is also ensuring maximum savings in the
pockets of the middle class. He mentioned that 9 years ago, tax was levied on
annual income of Rs 2 lakh, but today those earning up to Rs 7 lakhs have to
pay zero tax. “There is no tax on the income of Rs 7 lakhs”, the Prime Minister
said as he noted that it is saving thousands of rupees every year for
middle-class families living in cities. He also mentioned higher interest
payouts on small savings and 8.25 percent interest being fixed on EPFO.
The
Prime Minister gave the example of mobile phone usage cost to illustrate how
policies are saving money for the citizens. He said that 1 GB of data used to
cost 300 Rs in 2014. Today on average, 20 GB of data is used per person per
month. This has resulted in a saving of more than 5000 rupees per month for an
average citizen, he said.
Speaking
about the Jan Aushadhi Kendras offering medicines at a cheaper price, the Prime
Minister said that it is a blessing for those who ought to take regular
medicines and informed that these kendras have helped save about Rs 20,000
crores of the poor and middle class. “A sensitive government for the poor and
the middle class works like this”, he added.
The
Prime Minister said that the government is working with full sensitivity for
the development of Gujarat and Saurashtra. He touched upon the change that the
Sauni scheme brought to the water situation of the region. “Dozens of dams and
thousands of check dams in Saurashtra have become sources of water today. Under
the Har Ghar Jal Yojana, crores of families in Gujarat are now getting tap
water”, he added.
Concluding
the address, the Prime Minister said that this model of governance which has
been developed in the last 9 years adheres to the needs and aspirations of
every section of the society. “This is our way to build a Viksit Bharat. We
have to prove the resolutions of Amrit Kaal by walking this very path”, the
Prime Minister concluded.
Chief
Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya
Scindia, Member of Parliament, CR Patil, Ministers from Government of Gujarat
and Gujarat Legislative Assembly were present on the occasion among others.
Background
The
Prime Minister’s vision to improve air connectivity across the country gets a
fillip with the development of a new International Airport in Rajkot. The
Greenfield Airport has been developed in a total land area of more than 2500
acres and at a cost of more than Rs 1400 crores. The new airport has an
amalgamation of modern technology and sustainable features. The terminal
building is GRIHA -4 compliant (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment)
and the New Terminal Building (NITB) is equipped with various sustainability
features like Double Insulated Roofing System, skylights, LED Lighting, Low
Heat Gain Glazing etc.
Rajkot’s
cultural vibrancy has inspired the design of the terminal of the airport and it
will depict art forms from Lippan art to Dandiya dance through its dynamic
external façade and splendid interiors. The Airport will be the epitome of the
local architectural heritage and will reflect the cultural glory of art and
dance forms of the Kathiawar region of Gujarat. The new airport in Rajkot
will contribute not only towards the development of the local automobile
industry of Rajkot but will also encourage trade, tourism, education and
industrial sectors throughout Gujarat.
The
Prime Minister also inaugurated development projects worth over Rs 860 crores.
Sauni Yojana Link 3 Package 8 and 9 will help further strengthen irrigation
facilities and provide drinking water benefits for the Saurashtra region.
Upgradation of Dwarka RWSS will help provide adequate and potable water to
villages by pipeline. Other projects being taken up include the Conservation,
Restoration & Development of Uparkot Fort Phase I & II; construction of
a water treatment plant; sewage treatment plant; flyover bridge, among others.