PM Modi dedicates Kochi Metro to nation in presence of Sreedharan, says it will contribute to economic growth of Kerala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the first phase of Kochi Metro to the nation on Saturday. PM Modi addressed nation on the occasion.

Soon after his arrival at the Naval airport in Kochi from New Delhi, Modi drove to the Palarivattom station and took a ride from Palarivattom to Pathadippalam.

Kerala Governor P Sathasivam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan were among those who accompanied the prime minister in the train.

Here are the updates from the PM Narendra Modi’s speech in Kochi:

# I urge every young person in the audience to take a pledge of reading and enable everyone to do so

# We are now in information age. Even today, knowledge is the best guiding light

# From the time of Upanishads persons with knowledge have been respected through the ages

# Reading can help broaden one’s thinking. A well-read population will help India excel globally

# Reading and knowledge should spread the idea of peace along with respect for unity and integrity of the nation

# I admire work of late Shri P.N. Panicker and his foundation. He was also the driving spirit behind the library network in Kerala

# Kerala has been a torch-bearer and inspiration to the whole nation in the field of literacy

# Nearly 1000 women and 23 transgenders are being selected to work in Kochi Metro rail system

# There is need to bring about paradigm shift in urban planning, by adopting a people-centric approach and integrating land-use and transport

# Kochi will be one of the few cities in the world and the first in India to have a modern open-loop Smart Card

# Coaches of Kochi Metro reflect Make In India vision

# Kochi Metro will contribute to economic growth of Kerala

# Happy to be part of inauguration of Kochi Metro. I congratulate people on this occasion

After cutting the ribbon at the Palarivattom station, Modi shook hands with the chief minister and Sreedharan before proceeding to board the metro train.

During the journey, Modi waved at the crowd as Sreedharan and Kochi Metro Rail Ltd Managing Director Elias George interacted with him.

Union Urban Development Secretary Rajiv Gouba, Kerala Chief Secretary Nalini Netto and BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan also travelled with the prime minister.

After the train ride, the dignitaries left for the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at nearby Kaloor for the formal inaugural function.

Considered the fastest completed metro project in the country, Kochi Metro, the flagship transportation infrastructure project of Kerala, will start its regular operations from June 19.

The estimated completed cost of the metro touched Rs 5,181.79 crore.

A long-cherished project of Keralites, the foundation of Kochi Metro was laid by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on September 13, 2012.

It will improve regional connectivity and reduce traffic congestion.

With PTI inputs