Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth more than Rs 13,500 crore in important sectors such as rail, road, petroleum, natural gas, and higher education in poll-bound Telangana. Speaking at the event, PM Modi highlighted that by passing the Women's Reservation Bill in the Parliament "we established the emotion of worshipping 'Shakti' before" Navratri, news agency ANI reported.
He further stated: "Today, in Telangana, many projects are launched... I congratulate Telangana for the projects worth Rs. 13,500 crore... Many such road connectivity projects have been launched which will bring huge changes in the lives of people... Through the Nagpur-Vijayawada corridor, the commute to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra is going to get convenient. Because of this, in these three states trade, tourism and industry would be boosted. Economic hubs have been identified in this corridor. One Special Economic zone, five mega food parks, four fishing sea food clusters, three pharma and medical clusters and one textile cluster."
''Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed and now the voice of women will be strengthened in Parliament and every assembly," he further stated.
Slamming the ruling government in Tamil Nadu, PM Modi stated: "The government of Telangana is a car but the steering wheel is in the hands of someone else... The progress of Telangana has been halted by two family-run parties. Both of these family-run parties are known for their corruption and commission. Both of these parties have the same formula. The party is of the family, by the family and for the family... These people are turning democracy into a family dynasty. Their party is run like a private limited company. The president, CEO, director, treasurer, general manager, chief manager, and manager all are of the same family. They keep some people from outside as support staff."
"It is unfortunate that the state government has made the schemes meant for farmers a means to get black money. People of Telangana want change because now the state needs an honest government instead of a corrupt government," he further stated.
Speaking about the production of turmeric, PM Modi stated: "India is a prime producer, consumer and exporter of Turmeric. Farmers of Telangana produce turmeric in huge quantities. After Covid, awareness about turmeric has increased and global demand has also increased. Today it is important to pay more attention professionally and take an initiative in the value chain of turmeric, from production to export... Looking at the necessity of Turmeric farmers and future opportunities, the centre has decided to establish a National Turmeric Board."
Polls to the 119-member Telangana Assembly is due this year along with elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram.
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of key road projects worth Rs 6,400 crore which are part of Nagpur-Vijayawada Economic Corridor, including a 108-kilometre long four-lane access controlled greenfield highway from Warangal to Khammam section of NH-163G and 90 km-long four lane access controlled greenfield highway from Khammam to Vijayawada section of NH-163G.
He also dedicated to the nation a four-laning road project of 59 kilometre long Suryapet to Khammam section of NH-365BB at a cost of Rs 2,460 crore. The project is a part of Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam Corridor developed under Bharatmala Pariyojana.
In the railways, Modi dedicated a new 37-kilometre section of Jaklair–Krishna Railway Line built at a cost of over Rs 500 crore to connect areas of the backward district of Narayanpet for the first time onto the Railway map.
He also flagged off the Hyderabad (Kacheguda)-Raichur-Hyderabad (Kacheguda) train service from Krishna station via video conferencing that will connect Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Mahabubnagar, Narayanpet districts in Telangana with Raichur district in Karnataka.
At the event, the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the 'Hassan-Cherlapalli LPG Pipeline Project' worth Rs 2,170 crore. The pipeline from Hassan in Karnataka to Cherlapalli (suburb of Hyderabad), provides a safe, cost-efficient, and eco-friendly mode of LPG transportation and distribution in the region, as per a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office.
He also laid the foundation stone for the 425-kilometre ‘Multi- Product Petroleum Pipeline of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) from Krishnapatnam to Hyderabad (Malkapur)' to be built at a cost of Rs 1,940 crore.
The PM also inaugurated five new buildings of Hyderabad University — School of Economics; School of Mathematics & Statistics; School of Management Studies; Lecture Hall Complex – III; and Sarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication (Annexe).