Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the virtual inauguration of Pune Metro Line 3 and the foundation stone laying ceremony for Phase-2 projects. (PMO via PTI Photo)
Citing a World Bank report, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said around 50 crore people had been lifted out of extreme poverty in India over the last 10 to 12 years, noting that the fight against poverty was limited to "slogans" in the past.
Modi doubled down on the development agenda; underlined "transformation" in urban transport infrastructure over the past 12 years, and maintained that empowering the poor and delivering good governance were hallmarks of his government.
After inaugurating Pune Metro Line 3 (Pink Line) via video conferencing, Modi said India's operational metro network, which covered 248 km before 2014, now covers 1,200 km, and stressed that better urban infrastructure would accelerate the country's economic growth.
The 23-km-long Pink Line, built at a cost of over Rs 8,300 crore, will connect the Hinjewadi IT hub to the District Court Metro station.