PM Modi inaugurates Pune Metro Rail Project in Uddhav Thackeray's absence
The Shiva Sena provided no explanation for the CM's absence from the ceremony. Wearing black outfits, the NCP activists greeted the PM. They are protesting outside the Ambedkar Memorial.
Pune: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 12-kilometer portion of the 32.2-kilometer Pune Metro Rail Project on Sunday, but the state's Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray, did not attend the gala event.
The Shiva Sena provided no explanation for the CM's absence from the ceremony. Wearing black outfits, the NCP activists greeted the PM. They are protesting outside the Ambedkar Memorial.
Surprisingly, the Prime Minister purchased the ticket prior to travelling on it. Modi also inaugurated a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the Pune Municipal Corporation's headquarters (PMC). The trains will run on two routes: Vanaz to Garware College Metro Station and PCMC to Phugewadi Metro Station.
PM Modi travelled from Garware College Metro station to Anand Nagar Metro station on Pune Metro, interacted with schools students on board the metro train.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar felicitated PM Modi. The prime minister laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects in the city.
The Prime Minister said growing urban population is both an opportunity and a challenge. In order to cope with the growing population in our cities, development of mass transit system is the main answer. He listed a vision for the growing cities of the country where government is committed to provide increasingly more green transport, electric buses, electric cars and electric two wheelers.
“There should be Integrated Command & Control Center in every city to make the facility smart. Every city should have a modern waste management system to strengthen the circular economy. There should be enough modern sewage treatment plants to make every city water plus, better arrangements should be made for the conservation of water sources”, the Prime Minister elaborated.
He also hoped that such cites will have Gobardhan and biogas plants to create wealth from waste. Energy efficiency measures like use of LED bulb should be the hallmark of these cities. AMRUT mission and RERA laws are bringing new strengths in urban landscape, he said.
