LPG connection to all in three years, says PM
TALKS GROWTH Modi launches seven projects worth `5,000 crore; says they will ensure development across eastern India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said his government will provide cooking gas connection to all in the next three years.
He made the announcement while addressing a public meeting after launching seven projects, including a gas pipeline and power projects, worth `5,000 crore at the DLW ground.
Terming these projects ‘Saptarshi’, the PM said, “The projects will show way to ensure development across eastern India.”
Earlier, he laid foundation of city gas distribution (CGD) system worth `1,000 crore, perishable cargo (estimated cost `4 crore) and doubling and electrification of Varanasi-Allahabad rail (estimated cost `588 crore).
The CGD system will connect Varanasi with the natural gas grid of India through the ‘Urja Ganga’ project aimed at realising the vision of Modi to bring the ecofriendly fuel to eastern India.
The PM said Urja Ganga project will bring about qualitative change in lives of people especially women by providing them natural gas for cooking through pipeline. A part of Urja Ganga, the CGD is expected to generate 6,500 employment opportunities in Varanasi.
The project is to be executed by GAIL. The CGD is expected to connect 50,000 households with piped natural gas (PNG) and supply CNG to 20,000 vehicles through 20 CNG stations.
Natural gas will come to the city through the 2,540 km Jagdishpur – Haldia and Bokaro – Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline project (JHBDPL), also known as the ‘Urja Ganga’ that benefits five states including UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha.
This is the first time in the country that a CGD project is being taken up along with a major gas pipeline project, the JHBDPL. The pipeline project is being taken up at an investment of `12,940 crore. Centre will bear 40% of the cost that is `5,176 crore.
In addition, Modi dedicated 765/400 KV GIS Varanasi power station and expansion projects of the Diesel Locomotive Works (phase 1).
He added that the pace of completing project should be maintained in order that the speeds of trains could be increased.
The PM claimed that in last twoand-a-half years, the Centre had made more investment in railways as compared to what had been done by previous governments in the past six decades.
The PM further said the power station was aimed at ensuring quality power supply to Varanasi and eastern UP. Modi also released a commemorative postage stamp on Varanasi city and inaugurated Varanasi postal region on the occasion. He gave passbooks of Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana to five girls aged between 2 and 4 years.
Governor Ram Naik, union ministers including Dharmendra Pradhan, Manoj Sinha, Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Anupriya Patel and UP minister Bahmashankar Triapthi were also present on the occasion. BJP state unit president Keshav Prasad Maurya too attended the function.