India moving towards becoming number one in metro service availability - Manohar Lal
Union Housing Minister Manohar Lal and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini perform Bhoomi Pujan
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh –
Union Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal said that metro services are expanding rapidly across the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi. In 2014, metro services were available over just 248 km in 5 cities. Today, this network has grown to 1,066 km across 24 cities, with another 970 km metro service is in the pipeline. Once completed, India will emerge as the world’s number one country in metro service availability.
Manohar Lal was addressing the gathering as the chief guest at the Gurugram Metro Bhoomi Pujan program, organized by Gurugram Metro Rail Limited at the Gurugram University Campus Auditorium on Friday. The event was presided over by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. Haryana Industries and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh, Gurugram MLA Mukesh Sharma, Sohna MLA Tejpal Tanwar, and Pataudi MLA Bimla Chaudhary were also present.
On the occasion, the Union Minister and the Chief Minister extended greetings to the people on Teachers’ Day, Onam, and Eid. Earlier, the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony for the construction of the new metro line was held in Sector 44.The 28.5 km-long Metro corridor from Millennium City Center to Cyber City up to Dwarka Expressway, costing about Rs 5,500 crore will include 27 stations and connect new and old Gurugram.
Manohar Lal said that metro services are being expanded to provide convenience and better mobility to the people. He assured that wherever metro connectivity is needed across the country, the Urban Ministry will ensure timely approvals and implementation. Congratulating the people of Gurugram and the NCR for this project, he said that better transport facilities will save both time and money. The Union Minister further said that the Urban Ministry will provide 10,000 buses at concessional rates across the country, out of which 450 will be allotted to Haryana, including 100 buses dedicated to Gurugram. He added that to improve last-mile connectivity, transport facilities linked with metro stations will be made available through an app-based system, which will ensure safety and allow fare payments through metro cards, eliminating parking issues.
Commitment to make Gurugram number one in cleanliness
The Union Minister also administered a cleanliness pledge to the public, urging everyone to adopt cleanliness as a way of life. He said that with the cooperation of social and business organizations, every citizen must contribute to keeping their surroundings clean. Manohar Lal informed that he has assured the Prime Minister that Gurugram will make exemplary contributions in becoming number one in the national cleanliness rankings. He also thanked the Prime Minister for recently rationalizing GST slabs into two categories.
Metro corridor will give a new identity to Gurugram: Chief Minister
CM Saini welcomed Manohar Lal on his arrival in Gurugram and expressed gratitude to the Central Government for gifting the new metro project to the city. He said that today is a historic day for Gurugram. Together we are fulfilling a long-awaited dream. This metro service will benefit every citizen by reducing traffic congestion, saving travel time, decreasing pollution, and creating new employment opportunities. Metro stations have been strategically planned at key locations such as Subhash Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk, Udyog Vihar, Palam Vihar, and the Railway Station. He said that the project, to be completed within the next four years, will give Gurugram a distinct new identity. He further informed that metro extensions from Rejangla Chowk to Dwarka Sector-21, Sector-56 to Pachgaon, as well as NaMo Metro Corridor Delhi–Karnal, Delhi–Neemrana, and Gurugram–Noida via Faridabad are also part of the future plans. These projects will connect Gurugram more deeply with Delhi and the entire NCR. This metro is not just a means of transport, it is a symbol of progress, he added.
Gurugram emerging as a hub of economic power
Highlighting the city’s rapid growth, the Chief Minister said that Gurugram has become one of India’s most important economic centers, housing major IT, BPO, startup, and automobile companies. It is home to more than 250 Fortune 500 companies, and most of Haryana’s 19 unicorns are also based here. He said that lakhs of people from across the country and the world come to Gurugram in search of employment, business, and opportunities. The city, once a small village, is today known worldwide as the Millennium City. Gurugram now ranks third in per capita income in India, after Chandigarh and Mumbai.