Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the Kanpur Metro on December 28. Mr. Modi took the customary ride while the crowds cheered him along the way.
The launch of the 8.6 km-long Orange line, IIT-Kanpur to Moti Jheel, comes two months away from the UP Assembly elections. The project was approved by the central government in early 2019.
The newest public transit of Kanpur makes another talking point for BJP ahead of the polls.
The previous governments in Uttar Pradesh did not prioritize people, and the current BJP government is working with ‘doubled-speed’ to make up for the lost time, the Prime Minister said, speaking at a public gathering shortly after.
He said that the biggest airport, the longest expressway, the first rapid transit system, and a dedicated freight corridor hub are all now a part of Uttar Pradesh.
While the other governments neglected every city in the country except for three or four metro cities, the BJP government is taking development to all the regions, Mr. Modi said.
Prime Minister addresses 54th Convocation Ceremony of IIT Kanpur
The students who were once fearful of the unknown are now on a quest for the best, the Prime Minister said, addressing the 54th Convocation Ceremony of IIT Kanpur.
‘Your personalities have developed; the things that you have learned will give you such a strong foundation that wherever you go, you will do something amazing and add value,’ Mr. Modi told the graduating students.
The Prime Minister invoked Azadi Ki Amrit Mahotsav (The elixir of Independence), the freedom fighters and their struggle, and told the students that they should envision a brighter future for the nation and bear responsibility for the next 25 years, keeping 2047 in mind.