Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid foundation stones for several major infrastructure projects in Thane worth over Rs 32,800 crore, including the Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project, the Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension, and the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA) project.
Modi also inaugurated the BKC to Aarey JVLR section of Mumbai Metro Line 3, which is estimated to cost around Rs 14,120 crore. The 10-station section will improve connectivity between Mumbai city and its suburbs, with nine of the stations being underground. Once fully operational, Mumbai Metro Line 3 is expected to cater to about 1.2 million passengers daily.
The Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project, estimated at Rs 12,200 crore, will span 29 kilometers with 20 elevated and two underground stations. The metro is designed to meet the growing transportation needs of Thane, a significant industrial and commercial hub in Maharashtra.
Read Also | Mumbai Metro 3 Aqua Line: Opening Date and Its Impact on City Connectivity; Key Details
Modi also laid the foundation stone for the Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension from Chheda Nagar to Anand Nagar, Thane, aimed at providing seamless connectivity from south Mumbai to Thane.
Additionally, the prime minister laid the foundation stone for the NAINA project, estimated at Rs 2,550 crore, which includes major arterial roads, bridges, flyovers, underpasses, and integrated utility infrastructure. The foundation stone for the new Thane Municipal Corporation building, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 700 crore, was also laid.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were also present.
During a public meeting in Thane, Modi said that the central government has granted the Marathi language the status of a classical language. He stated, "Today, every citizen has a single goal - Viksit Bharat (Developed India). That's why every decision, resolution, and dream of our government is dedicated to Viksit Bharat. To achieve this goal, we need to make cities like Mumbai and Thane future-ready. But, for this, we have to do double labor — 'kyunki hamein vikaas bhi karna hai aur Congress sarkaar ke gaddhon ko bhi bharna hai' (because we have to develop and also fill the gaps left by Congress governments)."
Modi criticized the Congress party, describing it as "the most dishonest and corrupt party in India. "Congress is the most dishonest and corrupt party of India... In the last week, the name of one CM of Congress came into a land scam. Their one minister abusing women, disrespecting them. Congress leader caught with drugs in Haryana... In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress has crossed all the limits, they have brought a new tax there - toilet tax. On one side Modi is talking about building toilets, on the other side they are imposing tax on toilets," he said.
"Our govt has brought a bill on the illegal encroachment by the Waqf board, but for the politics of appeasement, the newer 'disciples' of Congress are committing a sin of opposing that. Even when the people of Congress say wrong things about Veer Savarkar, the 'disciples' of Congress keep standing behind them, Congress is saying that they will restore Article 370 but their 'disciples' are quiet about it. Such degradation of ideology for the sake of a new vote bank?" PM Modi further added.
(With Inputs from Agencies)