Bengaluru, Nov 13 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said steps taken in the last decade helped the country to sail through the crisis that emerged during the war in the Middle East.
He was speaking here after inaugurating various welfare projects worth over Rs 15,600 crore across Karnataka, including in renewable energy and petroleum infrastructure.
The prime minister said the ongoing war in and around Iran and the Gulf region has demonstrated how important energy security is.
“This has also been a challenging period for India. However, the steps taken over the past decade to strengthen energy security have helped us face this crisis with confidence,” Modi told the gathering.
He said the government has increased the production capacity for petrol, diesel and LPG; developed crude oil storage facilities; expanded solar, hydro and wind energy; achieved nearly 100 per cent electrification of the railways; and strengthened public transport systems such as the Metro.
The three projects inaugurated or launched in Karnataka on Friday will also give fresh strength to India’s energy security, he noted.
The LPG project in Mangaluru will increase the country’s LPG storage capacity by 80,000 metric tonne, and the Devangonthi Marketing Terminal at Dodda Dasarahalli in Bengaluru will make the supply of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel more organised and reliable.
The Compressed Biogas plant in Bengaluru will produce around 13 tonne of biogas every day. This will improve waste management and help save the money spent on importing natural gas, he explained.
The PM said India’s renewable energy capacity has now crossed 300 gigawatts. To achieve clean energy goals, India is also expanding its nuclear power generation capacity, he added.
Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, more than 60 lakh families across the country have installed rooftop solar plants, of which more than 40,000 of these families are in Karnataka, he said, adding that the central government has provided assistance of approximately Rs 80,000 to each family.
Similarly, under the PM-KUSUM scheme, irrigation facilities are being provided to farmers in Karnataka through more than eight lakh solar pumps. These schemes are reducing electricity expenses while creating new opportunities for income generation and employment, Modi said.
The prime minister said India is moving forward with the ambition of becoming a global leader in emerging technologies, from chips to ships and from AI data centres to quantum computing.
Speaking about the resolve of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, which was started in 2014, Modi said these efforts are leading to the expansion of the country’s middle class.
Regarding the Metro Pink Line, which was dedicated to the public, Modi said it gives better connectivity to people in Bengaluru.
Noting that Bengaluru is India’s Silicon Valley accounts for more than one-third of the country’s IT exports, Modi said the city is a major engine of India’s innovation and economic growth.
“With this vision, the central government is extending its support to the expansion of Namma Metro. In 2014, Namma Metro had a network of just 17 km. Today, its total network has expanded to more than 100 km. We are continuously scoring centuries,” the PM said.
As Modi also flagged off Vande Bharat from Bengaluru to Madgaon via Mangaluru, he said, “Indian Railways is now leaving behind the outdated mindset of the colonial era. The country’s railways are creating a new legacy and heritage.”
He informed the gathering that Karnataka received its first Vande Bharat sleeper train.
Noting that connectivity and energy security both play important roles in building a developed India, he said the growing aspirations are generating fresh demand in the country. This new middle class is becoming a major engine of growth for India’s economy, the PM observed.
“From automobiles to electronics, and from tourism to the services sector, new industries, factories and employment opportunities are emerging,” he said, adding that the interests of this new middle class, which is present in large numbers in Karnataka and Bengaluru, are among the priorities of the central government.
The endeavour of the Government of India is to increase the savings of the middle class, strengthen their purchasing power and enable them to fulfil their family’s dreams while also contributing to the country’s economic progress, he said.
Stating that the Centre has provided relief to senior citizens and those earning rental income by changing TDS rules, Modi said that through the next-generation GST reforms, his government has made everyday goods cheaper. Further, by removing GST on personal health and life insurance, “we have made insurance more affordable”.
The prime minister also inaugurated the Transmission Scheme for Integration of Renewable Energy Zones (Phase-II) in Koppal-II and Gadag-II (around Rs 4,450 crore), the Transmission Scheme for the Solar Energy Zone in Bidar (around Rs 1,370 crore), foundation stones of the Transmission Scheme for Integration of Davanagere/Chitradurga and Ballari Renewable Energy Zones (over Rs 3,450 crore) and Transmission System Strengthening project for Integration of Additional Renewable Energy Potential at Davanagere and Ballari (over Rs 1,100 crore).
(PTI News)
