Millennium Post (Kolkata)

‘Modi govt spent Rs 3,960 cr per year on rail works in Guj, six times more than UPA’

- OUR CORRESPOND­ENT

AHMEDABAD: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said Gujarat has seen huge progress in the railway sector ever since Narendra Modi became prime minister, with the Central government spending Rs 3,960 crore annually on works in the state between 2014 and 2022.

In comparison, the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre spent just Rs 590 crore annually on railway works in the state between 2004 and 2009, Shah said after inaugurati­ng and laying foundation­s stones of several railway projects in Sabarmati Assembly seat in Ahmedabad, which is a part of his Gandhinaga­r Lok Sabha constituen­cy.

“Ever since the Modi government was formed (at the Centre), Gujarat has witnessed a lot of progress in the railway sector in a short time. Under Congress rule at the Centre between 2004 and 2009, it spent Rs 590 crore annually in Gujarat on railways. Narendrabh­ai raised it from Rs 590 crore to Rs 3,960 crore between 2014 and 2022,” he said.

The opposition does not look at such data but it was due to this reason that people had been voting the BJP to power, the Union minister said on the second day of his visit to the

In comparison, the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre spent just Rs

590 crore annually on railway works in the state between 2004 and 2009, Shah said

state. Shah inaugurate­d a 430metre long passenger platform and ticket booking office at Chandlodiy­a railway station at Sabarmati, while a railway underpass between Chandlodiy­a station and Khodiyar station, expected to give relief from traffic jams and provide connectivi­ty, was also commission­ed.

Shah also inaugurate­d a general and air conditione­d women’s waiting room at Sabarmati railway station, and laid foundation stones for four rail underpasse­s and a foot overbridge.

Addressing the gathering, the Union minister talked about various projects in Ahmedabad and said Prime Minister Modi had done a lot for the developmen­t of the city.

“I have visited all across the country but have never seen a riverfront like the one in Ahmedabad. The BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) has not succeeded anywhere else but Ahmedabad,” he said, adding that once complete, the metro rail network here will make commuting easier.

The Centre has always responded immediatel­y and taken action on letters written by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Shah said.

 ?? ?? Amit Shah
Amit Shah

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