Trisha Ghosh, Pune
Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Saturday that he wishes to transform Mumbai into a financial technology capital on a global level, during his visit there at the Indian Newspaper Society inauguration. He also announced his intention to make Maharashtra a leading state for tourism. In particular, he emphasised the state’s potential for medical and conference tourism.
During his visit (his first visit to Maharashtra post the Lok Sabha elections), the PM inaugurated various public projects of Rs. 29,396 crore. A few of these include twin tunnels for Goregaon-Mulund and Thane-Borivali, remodelling of the Kalyan yard which will allow for segregation and mitigation of local train traffic, and new platforms at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus. The latter will improve the station’s capacity to accommodate a greater number of passengers and longer trains.
Furthermore, he has promised the development of pilgrimage centres nationwide to improve ease of travel, specifying Maharashtra’s current Pandharpur Wari; two roads, namely Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg, and Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg, are undergoing work in progress there at present.
The PM addressed media owners and members directly at the event, saying, “For India to become developed in these 25 years, the role of newspapers and magazines is equally big.” He emphasised the media’s responsibility to improve their respective state economies by promoting tourism and directing public attention to the rapidly changing landscape of the country and its conditions. Additionally, he criticised Opposition parties as alleged ‘enemies’ of any development.
On Sunday, Congress member Jairam Ramesh strongly criticised the PM’s claims and assertions, accusing him of having displayed hostility towards Maharashtra in the past in numerous projects and endeavours.
In a tweet on X (link: https://x.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1812328164489891909 ), Ramesh alleged that Maharashtra has been neglected in the last ten years, in terms of development projects and industrial investments. He further criticised PM Modi’s aversion to building an IFSC in the city of Mumbai and his refusal to declare Marathi as an Indian classical language.
Regarding his hopes for future endeavours in Maharashtra, the Prime Minister has elaborated, “There are so many magnificent forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a rich Konkan coastline and the entire Sahyadri mountain range.” His stated aim is to leverage the state’s power to make it a global ‘economic powerhouse’ and to improve connectivity between Mumbai and surrounding areas.