Mera Saansad
Search Search
Marathi language

Today, after 9 years, I am happy to say that our partnership with Nepal has truly been a "HIT": PM Modi

Published By : Admin | June 1, 2023 | 12:00 IST

Your Excellency Prime Minister 'Prachanda' ji,
Members of both delegations,
Our friends from the media,

Namaskar!

First of all, I heartily welcome Prime Minister Prachanda ji and his delegation to India.

I remember, that 9 years ago, in 2014, within three months of taking charge in office, I made my first visit to Nepal.

At that time, I had given a "HIT" formula for India-Nepal relations, HIT- Highways, I-ways, and Trans-ways.

I had said that we will establish such links between India and Nepal that our borders do not become barriers between us.

Oil should be exported through pipeline instead of trucks.

Bridges should be built over the shared rivers.

Facilities should be created for exporting electricity from Nepal to India.

Friends,

Today, after 9 years, I am happy to say that our partnership has truly been a "hit".

In the last 9 years, we have accomplished many achievements in various fields.

Nepal's first ICP was made in Birganj.

The first Cross-Border Petroleum Pipeline of our region was built between India and Nepal.

The first Broad-Gauge rail line has been established between us.

New transmission lines have been constructed across the border.

We are now importing more than 450 MW of power from Nepal.

It will take us a whole day, if we start describing the achievements of 9 years.

Friends,

Today Prime Minister Prachanda ji and I have taken many important decisions to make our partnership a super hit in the future.

Today the Transit Agreement has been concluded.

In this, along with new rail routes for the people of Nepal, provision has also been made for the facility of India's inland waterways.

We decided to increase physical connectivity by setting up new rail links.

Along with this, it has also been decided to provide training to railway personnel of Nepal in Indian Railway Institutes.

To boost connectivity to the far western region of Nepal, two more bridges will be built at Shirsha and Jhulaghat.

We welcome the steps taken in financial connectivity through cross border digital payments.

Thousands of students, lakhs of tourists and pilgrims as well as patients who have come to India for medical treatment will also be benefitted by this.

Economic connectivity will be strengthened by the construction of three "ICPs”.

Last year, we had adopted a landmark vision document for cooperation in the power sector.

Taking this forward, a long term Power Trade Agreement has been signed between India and Nepal today.

Under this Agreement, we have set a target of importing 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal in the coming ten years.

Cooperation in the power sector has been further strengthened by agreements on the Phukot-Karnali and Lower Arun Hydro-Electric Projects.

In view of the positive impact of Motihari-Amlekhganj petroleum pipeline, it has been decided to take this pipeline up to Chitwan.

Besides this, another new pipeline will also be constructed from Siliguri to Jhapa in eastern Nepal.

Simultaneously, new storage terminals will also be set up at Chitwan and Jhapa.

We have also agreed on mutual cooperation to set up a fertilizer plant in Nepal.

Friends,

The religious and cultural ties between India and Nepal are very old and very strong.

In order to further strengthen this beautiful link, Prime Minister Prachanda ji and I have decided that the projects related to Ramayana circuit should be expedited.

We will continue to work to give our relationship the height of the Himalayas.

And in this spirit, we will solve all the issues, whether it is of boundary or any other issue.

Excellency,

Prime Minister Prachanda ji, you will visit Indore and the religious city of Ujjain tomorrow.

I am sure your visit to Ujjain will be full of energy, and you will also have a spiritual experience in this journey from Pashupatinath to Mahakaleshwar.

Thank you very much.

Login or Register to add your comment
Explore More
अयोध्येत श्री राम जन्मभूमी मंदिर ध्वजारोहण उत्सवात पंतप्रधानांनी केलेले भाषण

लोकप्रिय भाषण

अयोध्येत श्री राम जन्मभूमी मंदिर ध्वजारोहण उत्सवात पंतप्रधानांनी केलेले भाषण
View All
India records highest-ever startup surge with 55,200 recognised in FY26

Media Coverage

India records highest-ever startup surge with 55,200 recognised in FY26
View All
NM on the go

Nm on the go

Always be the first to hear from the PM. Get the App Now!
Download App
...
Cabinet approves two railway projects in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh worth Rs 24,815 crore
April 18, 2026

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today has approved 02 (Two) projects of Ministry of Railways with total cost of Rs. 24,815 crore (approx.). These projects include:

Name of Project

Route Length (in km)

Track Length (in km)

Completion Cost (Rs. in Cr.)

Ghaziabad – Sitapur 3rd and 4th Line

403

859

14,926

Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu) – Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) 3rd and 4th Line

 

198

 

458

 

9,889

Total

601

1,317

24,815

The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. These multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion. The projects are in line with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji’s Vision of a New India which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by way of comprehensive development in the area which will enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities.

The projects are planned on PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan with focus on enhancing multi-modal connectivity & logistic efficiency through integrated planning and stakeholder consultations. These projects will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods, and services.

The 02 (Two) projects covering 15 Districts across the states of Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 601 Kms.

The proposed capacity enhancement will improve rail connectivity to several prominent tourist destinations across the country, including Dudheshwarnath Temple, Garhmukteshwar Ganga Ghat, Dargah Shah Wilayat Jama Masjid (Amroha), Naimisharanya (Sitapur), Annavaram, Antarvedi, Draksharamam, etc.

The proposed projects are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as coal, foodgrains, cement, POL, iron and steel, container, fertilizers, sugar, chemical salts, limestone, etc. The Railways being environment friendly and energy efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals and minimizing logistics cost of the country lowering CO2 emissions (180.31Crore Kg) which is equivalent to plantation of 7.33 Crore trees.

Ghaziabad – Sitapur 3rd and 4th Line (403 Km)

  • Ghaziabad – Sitapur is an existing double line section forming a key part of Delhi- Guwahati High Density Network (HDN 4).
  • The project is crucial for improving connectivity between the Northern and Eastern region of the country.
  • The existing line capacity utilization of the section is up to 168% and is projected to be up to 207% in case the project is not taken up.
  • Transverses through Ghaziabad, Hapur, Amroha, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Sahjahanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri and Sitapur districts of Uttar Pradesh.
  • The project route passes through major industrial centres - Ghaziabad (machinery, electronics, pharmaceuticals), Moradabad (brassware and handicrafts), Bareilly (furniture, textiles, engineering), Shahjahanpur (carpets and cement-related industries), and Roza (thermal power plant).
  • For seamless transportation, the project alignment is planned to bypass congested stations of Hapur, Simbhaoli, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, and Sitapur and accordingly, six new stations are proposed on the bypassing sections.
  • Key tourist/religious places along/near to the project section are Dudheshwarnath Temple, Garhmukteshwar Ganga Ghat, Dargah Shah Wilayat Jama Masjid (Amroha), and Naimisharanya (Sitapur) among others.
  • Anticipated additional freight traffic of 35.72 MTPA consisting of Coal, Foodgrains, Chemical Manures, Finished Steel, etc.
  • Estimated Cost: Rs.14,926 crore (approx.)
  • Employment generation: 274 lakh human-days.
  • CO2 emissions saved: About 128.77 crore Kg CO2 equivalent to 5.15 Cr trees.

  • Logistic cost saving: Rs. 2,877.46 crore every year vis-a vis road transportation.

Ghaziabad – Sitapur 3rd and 4th Line (403 Km)

Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu) – Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) 3rd and 4th Line (198 Km)

  • Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu) – Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) section forms part of the Howrah – Chennai High Density Network (HDN).
  • The proposed project is part of quadrupling initiative of Howrah – Chennai High Density Network (HDN) route.
  • The project traverses through East Godavari, Konaseema, Kakinada, Anakapalle and Vishakapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh.
  • Visakhapatnam is identified as an Aspirational District in the Aspirational Districts Programme.
  • It provides connectivity to major ports along the East Coast such as Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram, Machilipatnam and Kakinada.
  • The project route runs along the eastern coastline and is among the busiest, predominantly freight-oriented sections of the East Coast Rail Corridor.
  • The line capacity utilization of the section has already reached up to 130%, leading to frequent congestion and operational delays. The line capacity is expected to increase further due to proposed expansion of ports and industries in the region.
  • Project section includes 4.3 km rail bridge over Godavari River, 2.67 km viaduct, 3 bypasses and the new alignment is around 8 km shorter than the existing route, improving connectivity and operational efficiency.
  • The proposed section will also boost tourism by improving access to key destinations such as Annavaram, Antarvedi and Draksharamam etc.
  • Anticipated additional freight traffic of 29.04 MTPA consisting of Coal, Cement, Chemical Manures, Iron and Steel, Foodgrains, Containers, Bauxite, Gypsum, Limestone, etc.
  • Estimated Cost: Rs.9,889 crore (approx.)
  • Employment generation: 135 lakh human-days.
  • CO2 emissions saved: About 51.49 crore Kg CO2 equivalent to 2.06 Cr trees.

  • Logistic cost saving: Rs. 1,150.56 crore every year vis-a vis road transportation.

 

आर्थिक सशक्तिकरण:

Aspirational districts - Visakhapatnam district will get improved connectivity

Additional economic opportunities in the region through tourism & industries.

Better healthcare and education for the citizens due to enhanced rail connectivity.


Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu) – Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) 3rd and 4th Line (198 Km)

Prime Minister’s focus on railways:

  • Record budget allocation of Rs. 2,65,000 crore for FY 26-27.
  • Manufacturing more than 1600 locomotives- surpassed US and Europe in manufacturing of locomotive production
  • In FY 26, Indian Railways is expected to rank among the top three freight carriers globally, moving 1.6 billion tonnes of cargo.

  • India starts exporting metro coaches to Australia and bogie to United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, France and Australia.