Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, 16 November, inaugurated the 341-km-long Purvanchal Expressway in Karwal Kheri in the Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Modi had landed on the Purvanchal Expressway airstrip in an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130 Hercules plane.
"Those who have any doubt on capabilities of UP, on capabilities of people of UP should come to Sultanpur today to witness their capability. Such a modern expressway has now come up where it was just a piece of land three to four years back," Modi said during the event, where UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present.
"When I laid the foundation stone of Purvanchal Expressway three years back, I had never thought that I will land here on an aircraft one day," he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inauguration of the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur.
(Photo: PTI)
Modi called the Purvanchal Expressway the expressway of UP's development. "This expressway is the expressway of UP's strong and developing economy. It is the expressway of UP's determination and pride," the PM said.
"The country's security is as important as its prosperity. In a short while from now, we will see that how Purvanchal Expressway has now become one more power for the Indian Air Force in cases of emergency. Our fighter plane will land on the expressway shortly," PM Modi said.
Taking a dig at the Opposition, he further said, "The roar of these aircraft will also be for the people who ignored the defence infrastructure of the nation for decades."
The prime minister alleged that the previous UP governments never focused on the state's progress.
"It is not good for any country that some states keep developing while others fall behind. Earlier, even in UP, the kind of politics we witnessed, the governments UP had, they never focused on UP's progress. This sector used to be called 'Mafiabad', was struggling with extreme poverty," he added.
'Situation in UP 7-8 Years Back Used To Surprise Me': PM
Modi said that previous governments seemed to be punishing UP for a reason unknown to him.
"I used to be surprised by the situation seven to eight years back. I used to be surprised and ask what are some people punishing UP for? So, in 2014 when you gave me the opportunity to serve this great nation, I started going into the minute details of its development – as its MP, as the PM," he said.
Modi said he was pained when the previous governments didn't cooperate.
"They were also scared of upsetting their vote banks by standing beside me in public. I used to come as an MP, they used to disappear after receiving me at airport. They were ashamed as they had nothing to show as work."Prime Minister Modi
"The previous government did not do justice to the people of UP. They only cared about the development of their family members," he said.
"For previous governments, development was limited to their family and homes. The manner in which they discriminated in development, the manner in which they did welfare of only their family – people of UP will permanently remove them from the path of the state's development, you did this in 2017," he said.
'Expressway Will Help People From All Backgrounds'
The PM pointed out how the situation has changed now.
"I initiated a lot of projects for UP. Poor were given pucca houses, toilets were ensure in their houses so that women don't need to step out to relieve themselves, that every house should have electricity – a lot of such things were necessary to be taken up here," he said.
Talking about the expressway, he said it would help people from all backgrounds.
"This expressway will help the poor and the middle-class. It will help farmers and businessmen. When it was under construction, it gave jobs to several people. And now, it will provide employment to more people."
"This expressway is connecting different parts of UP. It will help the people of Bihar as well. People will easily be travel from Delhi to Bihar. This expressway will connect Lucknow to those cities which have a lot of scope for development," he added.
"I hope the media people are focusing on the fact that this expressway will link and connect different cities."
"Be it Delhi or Lucknow, earlier, families used to run the two states and focus on their interests," he said.
PM Modi also said they were focusing on other issues concerning the people of UP.
Earlier, taking to Twitter on Monday, the PM had stated that this was a "special day for UP's growth trajectory" and the project would bring "multiple benefits for UP’s economic and social progress."
PM Modi Spectates Air Show at Purvanchal Expressway
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while at the inauguration event, spectated an air show conducted by members of the air force on the 3.2 km long airstrip constructed on the Purvanchal.
As part of the air show, a Jaguar aircraft carried out a touch and go landing at the emergency landing field on Purvanchal Expressway. A medium transport aircraft An-32 and a Mirage 2000 also performed landing feats, as per ANI.
About the Expressway
As per an official press release, the airstrip will enable landing/take-off of Indian Air Force fighter planes in case of emergencies.
The 341-km long begins from village Chaudsarai in Lucknow and ends at village Hydaria located on National Highway No. 31– 18 km east of UP-Bihar border.
The expressway is six lanes wide which can be expanded to eight lanes in future.
"Constructed at an estimated cost of about Rs 22500 crore, the Purvanchal Expressway is going to give a boost to the economic development of eastern part of Uttar Pradesh especially the districts of Lucknow, Barabanki, Amethi, Ayodhya, Sultanpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur," the press release states.
(With inputs from ANI.)
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