Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the inauguration of multiple projects in Mumbai on Saturday, outlined an ambitious vision for the city’s future. Emphasising the progress made since his government took office, he highlighted initiatives aimed at providing proper housing for the poor, including Adivasi and Dalit communities. “Every infrastructure project leads to job creation, and with the increase in pace of infrastructure development, employment generation is also increasing,” he stated. Modi asserted that his government has generated 8 crore new jobs.
Recent data from the RBI’s KLEMS database supports this claim, revealing a significant rise in employment. The growth rate in employment doubled to 6% in FY2023-24, up from 3.2% in FY2022-23. In absolute terms, this translates to an increase of 4.67 crore jobs, bringing the total workforce to 64.33 crore in FY2023-24. The country has added 7.8 crore jobs since FY2020-21. Addressing the crowd with a “namaskar”, Modi promised accelerated progress in his third term. “Maharashtra’s strengths in industry, agriculture, and finance have made Mumbai a financial hub. I envision transforming Mumbai into the fintech capital and Maharashtra into the tourism capital of India,” he declared. Highlighting infrastructural advancements, Modi mentioned the completion of the Coastal Road and Atal Setu projects in Mumbai. Despite attempts to delay these projects, they are now operational, with Atal Setu alone supporting 20,000 cars daily and saving approximately Rs 20-25 lakh in fuel costs. “We are committed to advancing Mumbai’s transport infrastructure in every way,” Modi asserted.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the Kalyan Yard Remodelling project and the Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal in Navi Mumbai. Additionally, new platforms at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and extensions of platforms 10 and 11 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Station were inaugurated. Modi launched the Mukhyamantri Yuva Karya Prashikshan Yojana, an internship programme aimed at addressing youth unemployment, with an outlay of around Rs 5,600 crore. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised these projects as infrastructural marvels set to transform Mumbai’s commuting experience. “Soon, one will be able to reach any corner of Mumbai within 60 minutes. The underground metro will commence operations under your leadership, changing the city’s face,” Fadnavis said.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde credited Modi’s leadership for the city’s rapid progress, dismissing the opposition’s efforts to discredit the government. “The opposition tried to spread a false narrative but failed to secure even 100 seats in the Lok Sabha polls,” Shinde remarked. The collective efforts of the government aim to position Mumbai as a global fintech hub and boost Maharashtra’s tourism, driving economic growth and development.
