THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Kerala’s first Vande Bharat Express and dedicated to the nation various developmental projects, including the Kochi Water Metro.
He said as states develop, the country will develop faster.
The PM laid foundation stone and dedicated projects worth more than Rs 3200 crores at the Central Stadium here on April 25.
He said the central government lays emphasis on cooperative federalism and believes that if the states develop, it will help in the development of the country.
On a two-day visit of the southern state starting Monday, the PM flagged off the state’s maiden Vande Bharat Express service, which will connect the state capital with Kasaragod, Kerala’s northernmost district.
Addressing a massive crowd at the stadium, Modi — dressed in a traditional Kerala attire of ‘kasavu’ mundu, shawl and kurta — said Keralites are literate, hardworking, capable, intellectual and aware about the economic situations in the countries across the world.
Referring to development in the country, Modi said that in the last nine years, work on connectivity infrastructure has been undertaken at an “unprecedented speed and scale”. He said that in order to keep up the momentum, over Rs 10 lakh crore has been earmarked in this year’s budget for developing infrastructure.
Regarding the development of railways in Kerala, Modi said that compared to funds allocated to the state in the rail budget prior to 2014, the amounts have increased five-fold now.
