Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday flagged off eight trains connecting major destinations in various states of the country with the Statue of Unity in Gurjarat’s Kevadiya, via video-conferencing. The eight trains will connect Kevadiya to Varanasi, Dadar, Ahmedabad, Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin, Rewa, Chennai and Pratapnagar.
While addressing the audience, the Prime Minister said the train connectivity will be beneficial for tourists coming to see the Statue of Unity in Kevadiya as well as it will also help in changing the lives of the tribal community of the region.
“The connectivity will bring new opportunities for jobs and self-employment,” said the Prime Minister, adding “one lakh tourists will visit Kevadiya every day after improvement in connectivity”.
He also said that Kevadiya in Gujarat is a perfect example of how planning can improve the ecology and economy of a place. The PM pointed out that in just a few years’ time, Kevadiya, a small village, as emerged as a global tourist destination. “A survey pointed out that as the connectivity in the area is increasing, around one lakh people will visit Kevadiya each day in the future. The small and beautiful Kevadiya is an example of how with planning, the ecology and economy of a place can be improved,” PM Modi said.
He said when the proposal to convert Kevadiya into a global tourist destination was presented, most people thought it was an achievable task in a short time, but in just a few years, the tourist destination has emerged as a complete family package. “I remember, when the proposal to convert Kevadiya into a wonderful global tourist destination was presented, people thought that it was just a dream. They used to say it was not possible, and the project will take decades. And their point of view was also right based on their past experience. There were no broad roads connecting Kevadiya to other places. There were neither enough street lights on the road, nor rail connectivity nor enough arrangements for tourists to stay. In its rural setting, Kevadiya was just like any other villages in the country,” he said.
“But today in just a few years, the picture of Kevadiya has changed. There are broad roads to reach the place. There are proper arrangements for tourists to stay among other facilities. The sea plane service has started in the area and now with the launch of these trains, the rail connectivity of the place is also increased. It has emerged as a complete family package,” the Prime Minister added.
PM Modi also remembered former Tamil Nadu CM M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) on the occasion. “One of the trains flagged off for Kevadiya today originates at Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MG Ramachandran Central Railway Station. It is a pleasant coincidence that today is the birth anniversary of MGR. His life was dedicated to the service of the poor,” he said.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal were also present on the occasion.