Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday announced a Rs 100 lakh crore Gati Shakti National infrastructure master plan aimed at bringing employment opportunities to the youth and helping develop new economic zones across the country.
However, it is not clear if this is a part of the ambitious Rs 111 lakh-crore national infrastructure pipeline that was announced by the prime minister in his 2019 Independence Day speech or a completely different development plan.
Leading the nation into the 75th year of Independence from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the time had come to redefine India and called for “sabka prayas” to take the country to greater heights.
Setting national goals for the centenary of Independence in 2047, a 25 year period he called “amrit kaal”, the Prime Minister in a 90-minute address said, “This is the time, the right time, precious time for India. Let’s seize it.”
Noting that he was no fortune teller but a firm believer in the fruits of labour, the Prime Minister hailed the current generation as a “Can do generation”, saying, “This generation can do anything, achieve anything. I have full faith in the potential of our youth, our daughters, our farmers, our professionals…For the next 25 years we have to make pledges and touch the pinnacle of diligence and persistence to realise them. This is the time to dream new dreams and I can state with confidence that whoever unfurls the Tricolour in 2047 will announce the realisation of the promises we make today,” said the Prime Minister, in the presence of the Indian Olympic contingent, invited to I-Day celebrations as special guests.
Adding the phrase “sabka prayas” to the government’s “sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas” pledge, the Prime Minister said, “Now we have to move towards the saturation of all welfare goals — 100 pc villages must have roads, 100 pc households must have bank accounts, 100 pc women must have Ujjawla benefits.”
The over Rs 100 lakh crore Gatishakti initiative will “bring employment opportunities for youth and help in holistic infrastructure growth”, he said.
Modi said Gatishakti will help local manufacturers turn globally competitive and also develop possibilities of new future economic zones.
