PM's Karnataka visit: Ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the poll-bound state today where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of projects worth around Rs 16,000 crore. Besides, the Prime Minister also addressed a public rally after holding a mega road show in Mandya. This was PM Modi's sixth visit to the state this year as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) looks to regain power in the southern state.
While dedicating IIT Dharwad, PM Modi stressed the aim of providing quality education to all. 'The new campus of IIT in Dharwad will facilitate quality education. It will nurture young minds for a better tomorrow. Every citizen of our country should get an opportunity to access quality education. Good, modern infrastructure and modern infrastructure makes life easier Modern infrastructure will improve the Ease of Living and will benefit every section of our society. In the past 9 years, we have been trying to build modern infrastructure,' said PM Modi in Hubballi-Dharwad.
He further took a dig at Rahul Gandhi for his comment on foreign soil. 'India is not only the largest democracy but is the mother of democracy...it's unfortunate that in London questions were raised about India's democracy...Some people are constantly questioning India's democracy...,' said PM Modi in Hubballi-Dharwad.
Addressing the public gathering in Mandya, PM Modi also slammed the previous Congress government at the Centre. "Before 2014, the Congress govt at the Centre left no stone unturned to ruin poor people. Congress govt looted the money which was for poor people," he said.
Speaking further, the Prime Minister claimed that Congress is busy in "digging a grave of Modi" while Modi is busy in building Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway & easing the lives of the poor.
Among several projects during his visit to Mandya and Hubballi-Dharwad, the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the electrification of the Hosapete-Hubballi-Tinaighat section of the railway network and the upgradation of Hosapete station for boosting connectivity in the region.
PM Modi throws flower petals back at cheering crowd at roadshow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also threw flower petals back at the crowd, at several places as he was given a rousing welcome during a massive roadshow in this district headquarters city.
Modi enthusiastically waved at a large cheering crowd, who had lined up on both sides of the route, as the ruling BJP appeared focused on winning a good number of seats in Old Mysuru region, where it is traditionally weak. Assembly elections are due in May in Karnataka. The Prime Minister picked up the shower petals which got piled up on the bonnet of his car and was seen hurling them back at the crowd. He also got down from his car and greeted folk artists who staged a performance in his welcome.
PM to inaugurate and lay the foundation of these projects:
- PM Modi to dedicate Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway; project will reduce travel time from 3 hrs to 75 mins
- The PM to lay foundation stone for Mysuru-Kushalnagar 4 lane highway
- He will dedicate IIT Dharwad; foundation stone for the project was also laid by PM in February 2019
- PM to dedicate the longest railway platform in the world at Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji Hubballi Station
- PM Modi to dedicate redeveloped Hosapete station which has been designed to resemble the Hampi monuments
- The Prime Minister to lay foundation stone for Dharwad Multi Village Water Supply Scheme
- PM to also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various projects of Hubballi-Dharwad smart city
Meanwhile, PM Modi also dedicated and laid the foundation stones of key road projects in Mandya. Thereafter, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of various development initiatives in Hubbali-Dharwad at around 3:15 PM.
The rapid pace of development of infrastructure projects has been a testament to the vision of the prime minister to ensure world-class connectivity across the country, the statement said.
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About Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway
Moving ahead in this endeavour, Prime Minister Modi will dedicate the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway to the nation, it said. The project involves six-laning of the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta-Mysuru section of NH-275. The 118-km-long project has been developed at a total cost of around Rs 8,480 crore. It will reduce the travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru from around three hours to about 75 minutes, the statement said. It will act as a catalyst for socio-economic development in the region, it said.
About Mysuru-Khushalnagar four-lane highway
Prime Minister Modi will also lay the foundation stone of Mysuru-Khushalnagar four-lane highway. The 92-km-long road project will be developed at a cost of around Rs 4,130 crore, the statement said. The project will play a key role in boosting connectivity of Kushalnagar with Bengaluru and will help halve the travel time from about 5 to only 2.5 hours, it said.
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IIT Dharwad to be inaugurated today
In Hubbali-Dharwad, the Prime Minister will dedicate IIT Dharwad to the nation. The foundation stone of the institute was laid by Prime Minister Modi in February 2019. Developed at a cost of over Rs 850 crore, the institute currently offers four-year B.Tech. programmes, inter-disciplinary five-year BS-MS programmes, M.Tech. and Ph.D. programmes.
Prime Minister Modi will also dedicate to the nation the longest railway platform in the world at Sri Siddharoodha Swamiji Hubballi Station. The record has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records recently. The 1,507-metre-long platform has been built at a cost of about Rs 20 crore.
Electrification of Hosapete-Hubballi-Tinaighat section
The Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation the electrification of the Hosapete-Hubballi-Tinaighat section of the railway network and the upgradation of Hosapete station for boosting connectivity in the region. Developed at a cost of over Rs 530 crore, the electrification project establishes seamless train operation on electric traction. The redeveloped Hosapete station will provide convenient and modern facilities to travellers. It has been designed to resemble the Hampi monuments, the statement said.
Hubballi-Dharwad smart city
Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of various projects of Hubballi-Dharwad smart city. The total estimated cost of these projects is about Rs 520 crore, it said. These efforts will enhance the quality of life by creating hygienic, safe and functional public spaces and transform the town into a futuristic urban centre, it said.
Further, Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone of the Jayadeva Hospital and Research Centre. The hospital will be developed at a cost of about Rs 250 crore and will provide tertiary cardiac care to the people of the region.
Dharwad Multi Village Water Supply Scheme
In order to further augment water supply in the region, Modi will lay the foundation stone of the Dharwad Multi Village Water Supply Scheme, which will be developed at a cost of over Rs 1,040 crore. He will also lay the foundation stone of Tupparihalla Flood Damage Control Project, which will be developed at a cost of about Rs 150 crore. The project aims to mitigate damage caused by floods and involves the construction of retaining walls and embankments, the statement said.
Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023
It should be noted here that Legislative Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in Karnataka before May 2023 to elect all 224 members of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. The tenure of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly is scheduled to end on 24 May 2023. The previous assembly elections were held in May 2018. Karnataka has 5.05 crore registered voters as of the updated final electoral rolls for 2023, which were released on January 5 this year. This number includes 2.50 crore registered women voters and 4,502 other voters.
(With inputs from agencies)
