PM Modi Inaugurates First Greenfield Industrial Smart City In Aurangabad, Vows More Development

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the 10,000-acre Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC), the first ever greenfield industrial smart city of India, as part of the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor, near the historic city in Maharashtra.

Besides, the prime minister opened the Auric Hall, a six-storey building which will be both monitoring and administrative nerve centre for the smart city and launched the Auric chatbot that will help anyone get their problems addressed by the city administration.

Billed as the country's first greenfield industrial smart city, Aurangabad, the backward Marathwada region, has been developed as part of the Delhi Mumbai industrial corridor. With this, the government aims at fastening up industrial growth between two of the nation's biggest cities - Delhi and Mumbai.

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Modi, who arrived in Aurangabad from Mumbai, also visited an exhibition of handicraft wares made by women self-help groups, accompanied by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and State Women and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde.

Addressing a Mahila Sammelan in Aurangabad. Watch. https://t.co/rkmofHdHZY

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 7, 2019

The exhibition, namely Mahila Saksham Melava was organised by Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission (UMED), at Shendra MIDC in Aurangabad. Under the UMED campaign, four lakh SHGs have been set up all over the state and 43 lakh people were covered under this scheme.

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Addressing the empowered women's meet, Modi saluted all the members of self-help groups for their significant contributions in empowering the country and building a new India. "All of you are playing a huge role in financially empowering our families - our villages," the prime minister said.

On inauguration of Aurangabad Smart City, Modi said the signature building of new Aurangabad is now ready for service and will play a key role in further developments of the region.

"Apart from being a smart city, Aurangabad is going to be a centre for industrial activities across the country. It is also an important part of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. Several big companies have started working here and more will come in near future," he said.

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Giving a list of government's various schemes for farmers, PM Modi said, "Many steps are being taken by the Central and State Governments to provide facility for irrigation. Direct assistance are also dispensed to bank accounts of every farmers while pensions are being provided to those over the age of 60.

Last but not the least, Modi vowed to provide a roof of the head of every poor by the year 2022, adding that about 18 million houses have already been built in the villages and cities across the country. "We understand that we need to build your dream homes rather than mere houses made with bricks and walls," he added.

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During his visit to Aurangabad, Modi also handed over an LPG connection to the 8 crore beneficiary under the Ujjwala scheme, which has reportedly paid BJP rich dividends politically, to one Ayesha Sheikh Rafiq from the city.

The prime minister also gave away a similar LPG connection to one Nargis Begum, who was brought in from the troubled Kashmir for the same by the administration.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Modi inaugurates Aurangabad Industrial City as part of upcoming Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor.
• The prime minister also visited an exhibition of women self-help groups.
• As promised earlier, Modi handed over 8 crore LPG connections under Ujjwala scheme.