Namaskar!
Governor of Maharashtra, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan ji, popular Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde ji, Deputy Chief Ministers Shri Devendra Fadnavis ji and Shri Ajit Pawar ji, Member of Parliament from Pune and my young colleague from the Cabinet, Shri Murlidhar, other central ministers who are connected via video conference, all senior ministers of Maharashtra who I can see in front of me, MPs, MLAs, and all brothers and sisters associated with this event!
My greetings to all my beloved sisters and brothers of Pune!
I was supposed to come to Pune two days ago to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for several major projects. However, the event had to be cancelled due to incessant rains. This was a personal loss for me because every particle of Pune is filled with patriotism, every part of Pune is filled with social service. Visiting such a city of Pune fills one with energy. So, it is a big loss for me that I am not able to come to Pune today. But thanks to technology, I have the privilege of seeing all of you. Today, this land of Pune—this land of inspiration for Bharat’s great personalities— is witnessing a new chapter of Maharashtra's development. The metro route of the District Court to Swargate section has just been inaugurated, which will start its operations on this route. The foundation stone of the Swargate-Katraj section has also been laid today. Additionally, the foundation stone of the memorial of our revered revolutionary Savitribai Phule has also been laid today. I am glad that we are progressing rapidly toward realizing our dream of enhancing the 'Ease of Living' in Pune.
Brothers and sisters,
Today, by the grace of Lord Vitthal, his devotees have also received a precious gift. The work of upgrading the airport to connect Solapur directly with air connectivity has been completed. The capacity of the terminal building here has been increased, and new facilities have been developed for passengers. This will greatly benefit the devotees of Vitthal, both from within the country and abroad. Now, people will be able to reach Solapur directly to visit Lord Vitthal. This will also promote trade, business, and tourism. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the people of Maharashtra and all of you for these development works.
Friends,
Today, Maharashtra needs new resolutions with great ambitions. Therefore, it is essential that we make cities like Pune the centre of progress and urban development. Pune is growing rapidly, and the population pressure here is also increasing at the same pace. To ensure that Pune’s growing population does not slow down the city’s progress but rather enhance its potential, we need to take steps now. This will happen when Pune’s public transport is modernized, when the city expands but connectivity between different areas remains excellent. The Mahayuti government is working day and night with this mindset and approach.
Friends,
Considering Pune’s modern needs, work should have been done much earlier. An advanced transport system like the metro should have been introduced in Pune a long time ago. Unfortunately, there was a lack of both planning and vision in our country's urban development in the past decades. Even if a plan was discussed, it remained stuck in files for many years. Even if a project was approved, it would take decades to complete. This outdated work culture caused significant harm to our country, Maharashtra, and Pune. You might recall that the idea of building a metro in Pune was first proposed in 2008. But it wasn’t until 2016, when our government started removing obstacles and taking quick decisions, that the foundation was laid. And now, as you can see, the Pune Metro is not only operational but also expanding.
Today, while we have inaugurated old projects, we have also laid the foundation for the Swargate-Katraj line. Earlier in March this year, I inaugurated the metro service from Ruby Hall Clinic to Ramwadi. In these seven-eight years from 2016 to now, the progress on Pune Metro—its expansion across so many routes and new foundations being laid—would not have been possible under the old work culture. The previous government couldn’t even erect a single pillar for the metro in 8 years, whereas our government has built a modern metro network in Pune.
Friends,
The continuity of a government that prioritizes development is crucial for the state's progress. Whenever there is a disruption in this regard, Maharashtra suffers greatly. Look at the metro projects, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train, or important irrigation works for farmers—many such critical projects for Maharashtra’s development were derailed before the double engine government was formed. One more example is the Bidkin Industrial Area! During our government, my friend Devendra ji conceptualized the Auric City. He laid the foundation of the Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Area on the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. This work was to be done under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme. But this work was stalled in between. Now, the double engine government under the leadership of Shinde ji has removed those obstacles. Today, the Bidkin Industrial Node has also been dedicated to the nation. The Bidkin Industrial Area will be spread over nearly 8,000 acres in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Land has already been allotted to many large industries. This will attract investment worth thousands of crores here, creating thousands of jobs for the youth. This mantra of generating jobs through investment is becoming a great strength for the youth in Maharashtra today.
We must cross many milestones to reach the pinnacle of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). Bharat must modernize while staying rooted in our core values. Bharat must develop while proudly carrying forward our heritage. Bharat’s infrastructure must be modern and based on the needs and priorities of our nation. Our society must move forward with one mind and one goal. Keeping all these in mind, we must continue our journey forward.
For Maharashtra, future-ready infrastructure is just as important as ensuring that the benefits of development reach every section of society. This will only happen when every class and community participates in the nation’s development. It will happen when the leadership of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ is taken up by the women of the country. When women take responsibility for social change, anything is possible, and the land of Maharashtra has been a witness to this. It was on this very land that Savitribai Phule started such a large movement for women's education. The first school for girls was opened here. It is important to preserve the memory and legacy of this movement. Today, I have laid the foundation stone for the Savitribai Phule Memorial at the site of the country’s first girls' school. I am happy that this memorial will also include a skill development centre, a library, and other essential facilities. This memorial will keep alive the memories of that social awareness movement. This memorial will inspire our society and the new generation.
Brothers and sisters,
The social conditions in the country before independence were marked by poverty and discrimination, and in those times, education for our daughters was extremely difficult. Luminaries like Savitribai Phule opened the doors of education for daughters that had been closed for them. But even after independence, the country did not completely free itself from that old mindset. Previous governments restricted women’s entry in many areas. There was lack of basic facilities like toilets in schools, and as a result, even though schools existed, their doors were closed to daughters. As soon as girls grew a little older, they were forced to drop out of school. Admission of girls was prohibited in military schools, and many sectors of the army restricted women’s participation. Similarly, many women had to leave their jobs during pregnancy. We changed those old mindsets and systems of previous governments. We launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Campaign), which greatly benefited the daughters and mothers of the country by freeing them from the need to defecate in the open. The construction of separate toilets in schools reduced the dropout rate among girls. We opened many positions in the army and military schools for women. We enacted strict laws for women's safety. Along with all this, the country has guaranteed women’s leadership in democracy through the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
Friends,
When the doors of every field opened for our daughters, only then the real doors of development of our country could open. I believe the Savitribai Phule Memorial will further energize our efforts and campaign for women's empowerment.
Friends,
I am confident that the inspirations from Maharashtra and this land will continue to guide the country, as always. Together, we will achieve the goal of a ‘Viksit Maharashtra, Viksit Bharat’ (Developed Maharashtra, Developed India). With this belief, I once again extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you for these important projects. I thank you all very much.
