New Delhi (NVI): In a landmark moment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the 351-km long New Bhaupur-New Khurja section of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) in Uttar Pradesh via video conferencing.
The new section, which has been built at a cost of Rs 5,750 crore, will open new avenues for local industries in the state.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor’s (EDFC) operation control centre at Prayagraj.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister expressed happiness on seeing the modern rail infrastructure project getting implemented on the ground.
He said today when the first goods train runs in the Khurja Bhaupur freight corridor we can hear the roar of the Self reliant india. He also said that Prayagraj Operation Control center is one of the modern control centers and a symbol of the new strength of the new India.
“The government is working on every aspect of modern connectivity for the last six years with this in mind and is focussing on the five wheels of highways, railways, airways, waterways and i-ways,” the Prime Minister said.
He said today’s inauguration of a large section of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor is a big step in this direction.
“Industry, businessmen, farmers or consumers, everyone is going to benefit from this dedicated freight corridor,” the PM said, adding that, “the freight corridor will boost the eastern India which is left behind industrially.”
The Prime Minister said reforms have been undertaken at every level in the railways like Cleanliness, improved food and drink and other facilities.
“India is now building modern trains and also exporting, Varanasi is becoming a major center for Electric Locomotives, Rail Coaches manufactured in Rae Bareli are now exported abroad,” Modi added.
In addition to this, the Prime Minister urged to keep the development of the country’s infrastructure away from politics. He said Country’s infrastructure should be a mission to benefit many generations, not 5 years of politics. If political parties have to compete, there should be competition in the quality of infrastructure, competition on speed and scale.
The newly inaugurated section will open new vistas of opportunity for local industries such as aluminium industry in Pukhrayan region of Kanpur Dehat, dairy sector of Auraiya, textile production and block printing of Etawah, glassware industry of Firozabad, pottery products of Khurja, asafoetida or ‘hing’ production of Hathras, and locks and hardware of Aligarh district.
The section will also decongest the existing Kanpur-Delhi mainline and will enable the Indian Railways to run faster trains.
-CHK
