Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday targeted the previous Congress regime over the delayed Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway project, saying that they have made the people of Haryana and Delhi NCR suffered a lot.
As the Prime Minister inaugurated the Kundli-Manesar section of the KMP Expressway on Monday at Gurugram, he blamed the Congress Government for causing loss to the state saying that the project is a “case study” of how public money is wasted.
“Now, with the completion of this Expressway, vehicles coming from the states would not be required to enter Delhi. As a result of this, the number of vehicles entering into Delhi would be considerable reduced which would also help in reducing the level of pollution in Delhi and nearly areas,” said Modi while addressing a ‘Jan Vikas Rally’ at village Sultanpur in Gurugram after inaugurating the project.
He also inaugurated the 3.2 km-long Ballabhgarh-Mujesar Metro rail link, which would facilitate travel for the people of Delhi and Faridabad and laid the foundation stone of the Shri Vishwakarma Skill University, which will come up at Dudhola in Palwal district.
Without naming any party, the Prime Minister said “Atkane aur Latkane Wali Sanskriti” has made the people of Haryana and Delhi NCR suffered a lot.
“The KMP Expressway project was conceived at an estimated cost of Rs 1200 crore but due to delay in the work, the cost of the project increased to three times. Had the Expressway completed on time, the traffic system in Delhi could have been improved,” he said.
Taking a dig at the previous Congress Government, Modi said, “Today’s occasion is to remember two pictures — one of the present time, when a work is taken up with determination and is accomplished, which is reflective of the work culture of the BJP governments. The second picture duly reminds us of how work was done during the previous government.”
“The work on this Expressway could have been completed 8-9 years ago but this is the result of the delaying tactics adopted by the previous government that it took 12 years to complete this expressway,” he said.
Continuing his tirade against the Congress, Modi said the KMP project was to be used during the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010.
“But what they (previous regime) did to Commonwealth Games (in an apparent reference to CWG scam), the same story became true for this expressway,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister said that after the NDA government came to power in 2014, the Centre and the Haryana Governments engaged regularly to ensure that the project is completed soon.
Modi was accompanied by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Ministers Rao Inderjit Singh, Birender Singh and Haryana Cabinet Ministers. Haryana Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya was also present on the occasion.
Dedicating three major projects to the people of Haryana, the Prime Minister said that while the KMP Expressway and Mujesar-Ballabhgarh metro link would bring revolution in the field of connectivity, Shri Vishwakarma Skill University would give renewed strength to the youth.
He said that with the linking of Ballabhgarh to Mujesar through metro link, Ballabhgarh has made its mark on the metro map. This would not only facilitate the people going to Delhi but also save their time and money, he said.
Batting for a clean environment, Modi said, “Efforts are being made to ensure those alternate medium of transport which consumes less time and low cost and also friendly to the environment. Electric train is the step in this direction.”
Highlighting achievements of his Government, Modi said that during the four years tenure of the present Government, 33,000 kms long highways has been constructed at a cost of more than Rs three lakh crore.
The number of highway constructed by the present government in four years is much more than the number of highways constructed by the previous government in seven-and-a-half years, he added.
The government is also emphasising on fully utilising water resources, he said, adding that more than 100 waterways are coming up.
Reiterating that BJP Governments work with an aim of "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas", Modi said that the present BJP Governments be it in Haryana or Rajasthan or in other states are working with the same spirit.
While paying rich tributes to the fallen heroes of the Indian Army during the Rezang La battle of Ladhak which completed its 56 years on Sunday, Modi earlier said that soldiers led by Paramvir Chakra recipient Major Shaitan Singh showed indomitable courage while fighting with the enemy and most of these soldiers hailed from Haryana.
The Prime Minister also praised Haryana, saying it is one of the leading states in terms of exports and in successfully running Central Government programmes. “The success of 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' and 'Khelo India' campaigns are the biggest example of this,” he added.
On employment scenario, he said, “Apart from providing government jobs, the Haryana Government is imparting skill education to the youth to make them employable. Shri Vishwakarma Skill University is a huge step in this direction.”
Earlier, the Prime Minister had visited Haryana on October 9, when he had unveiled a 64-feet tall statue of venerated Jat farmer leader Deenbandhu Sir Chhotu Ram in Sampla at Rohtak.
