NEW DELHI, June 19: The prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday send a message of cleanliness to the people of the country personally picking up litters at just-inaugurated Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor tunnel in New Delhi.
Before inaugurating the tunnel, Modi inspected the tunnel walking down for some distance and in a video shared by some media houses was seen picking up a discarded water bottle and other trash with his hands while inspecting the tunnel. The tunnel was open for the public on Sunday.
The Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor project has been built at a cost of more than Rs 920 crore and is entirely funded by the central government. It is aimed at providing hassle-free and smooth access to the new world-class exhibition and convention centre being developed at Pragati Maidan to facilitate easy participation of exhibitors and visitors in the programmes being held there.
Speaking after inaugurating the main tunnel and five underpasses of the Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor project here, Modi cited a number of initiatives, including Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways, more than doubling of metro tracks in Delhi-NCR and the Delhi-Meerut highway, among other things, as steps taken by his government to solve the region’s problems.
“Delhi has received a beautiful infrastructure gift from the central government,” Modi said after inaugurating the project. He noted that the project would help save 55 lakh litres of fuel and cut down pollution. Modi said his government looks at increasing urbanisation as an opportunity and has been working to boost ease of living for the people.
Modi also suggested that the tunnel be closed to traffic for four-five hours once a week and instead educational tours be organised for schoolchildren at the site to teach them art, culture and festivals of the country.
“Constructing such a marvellous tunnel in such short period despite facing several hiccups like Covid lockdown and labour crunch is not an easy thing. The tunnel passes beneath seven railway tracks and the stretch around Pragati Maidan sees heavy traffic but despite all of that, the engineers completed the project on time,” said Modi while addressing the media and officials at Pragati Maidan.
He said, “Decades ago, the Pragati Maidan was built to showcase India’s progress, products manufactured in India, handicrafts and culture of our country…” Top of Form
The PM added that the Pragati Maidan Corridor will provide major relief to commuters travelling from Noida, Ghaziabad and people of Delhi and the Centre’s main aim behind developing the infrastructure was to provide ease of living to people.
“To develop and modernise Delhi, the Central Government is relentlessly working on the state-of-art facilities, exhibition halls to organise world-class events. A convention centre is also being constructed in Dwarka,” he said.
During his visit to the tunnel, the PM took a walk to take stock of the artwork and paintings on the walls of the tunnel. “I first took a ride in jeep but after travelling for about 5-10 minutes, I stepped out the vehicle as I could not stop myself from the mesmerizing beauty of the art. I walked for 10-15 minutes and enjoyed the artwork which depicts the culture, festival and six seasons of India,” said the PM.
“I have a suggestion to the officials to close the Pragati Maidan tunnel for four-six hours every Sunday for vehicles and organise tour and visits for schoolchildren as the traffic movement is less on holiday and it can be a wonderful opportunity for children and public to explore art and learn about our culture. The tunnel should be treated as art gallery,” said Modi.
He also asked the external affairs ministry to arrange a visit to the site for all diplomats and foreign ambassadors to India. Notably, the paintings, murals and art works on the six-lane tunnel showcase Indian culture, birds and six seasons in different parts of the country. It is reportedly the longest mural work in the world.
(Manas Dasgupta)