PM Modi Inaugurates Rail Projects For Bihar; Slams Previous Government

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the ''Kosi Rail Mahasetu'' along with a slew of other rail projects for Bihar and hit out at the previous UPA government for the "slow" progress in the development of railways in the state during its rule. The prime minister dedicated the ''Kosi Rail Mahasetu'' to the nation and inaugurated via video conference various projects related to electrification and new rail lines.

Kosi rail mega-bridge was ''dream project'' of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the then Railway minister Nitish Kumar, but after the Vajpayee government, speed on this project slowed, PM Modi said.

"In 2003, Atal ji was the prime minister and Nitish ji railway minister when the new Kosi rail line was planned with an aim to solve the problems being faced by people of Mithila and Kosi," PM Modi said. With this thinking, in 2003 the groundbreaking ceremony was done by Vajpayee but the next year, his government went and after that the speed of work on the Kosi rail line project slowed considerably, the prime minister said.

"If the people of Mithilanchal and the people of Bihar had been cared for then work would have been done at a fast pace on the Kosi rail line project," he said. "In this period, who was in charge of Railways, whose government it was, I do not want to go into that but the truth is that if the speed of work would have been the same (under our government) as was earlier then the project would have taken ages to be completed," Modi said, in an apparent attack at the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

In the last six years, efforts are being made to shape the Indian Railways as per the aspirations of New India and expectations of ''Aatmanirbhar Bharat'', he said. PM Modi also said 325 km rail line was commissioned in Bihar in five years before 2014, while 700 km has been commissioned in five years since 2014. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Modi were also present during the virtual event.

Here are the highlights from PM Modi's speech:

• In the last 6 years, efforts are being made to shape Indian Railways as per the aspirations of New India & expectations of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat.' Vande Bharat - a symbol of modernity and self-reliance - the made in India trains are becoming part of rail network.
• Farmers have been given new independence in agriculture. They'll now have more options & opportunities to sell their produce. I congratulate them on passage of Bills. It was necessary to bring these to protect them from middlemen. These are farmers' shields.
• But the people who ruled this country for decades are attempting to mislead the farmers on this issue. They are lying to the farmers.
• These projects, worth almost Rs 3000 Crores, will not only strengthen Bihar's rail network but also strengthen West Bengal and eastern India's rail connectivity. I congratulate everyone: PM Modi at the inauguration of various railway projects in Bihar.