New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that Union Budget 2023 will boost growth in the infrastructure sector, adding that infrastructure development has always been an important pillar in the process of a country’s development. This statement came as he addressed a post-Budget Webinar on ‘Infrastructure and Investment – Improving Logistics Efficiency with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan’.
He claimed that after 2014, when the BJP assumed power at the Centre, annual construction of National Highways on average has been doubled in comparison to the situation before 2014.
Modi said, “Today, the average annual construction of National Highways has been almost 2 times as compared to before 2014. Unfortunately, after independence, modern infrastructure was not given much-required emphasis.”
PM Modi emphasised that infrastructure development acts as the driving force when it comes to the country’s economic growth.
“Infrastructure development is the driving force of the country’s economy. The importance to modern infrastructure should be given by states also,” PM Modi said.
He further remarked that people in India thought for decades that poverty is a virtue, which made it difficult for governments earlier in investing in the infrastructure development in the country. However, according to him, the situation changed after his party came to power in the nation with a landslide victory in 2014.
“Our government has not only pulled the country out of this thinking, but it is also making record investments on modern infrastructure,” Modi said, as cited by PTI.
While speaking in the post-Budget Webinar on ‘Infrastructure and Investment,’ the Prime Minister asked everyone to work together to develop a better infrastructure in the nation.
He said, “I urge all the sectors of government to work on infrastructure development. When infrastructure is developed, it automatically paves the way for the country’s growth.”
The BJP-led Union government is laying emphasis on infrastructure and investment as its top priority sectors.
“We consider infrastructure development as the driving force of the country’s economy. Following this path, India will achieve the target of becoming a developed nation by 2047. Now we have to increase our speed further. Now we have to go in top gear,” PM Modi stressed, as quoted by PTI.
Speaking further on it, he said that more talented youth will come to work as a result of better infrastructure in the country. He added special focus should be given to skill development.
“The stronger the infrastructure, the more talented youth will come forward to work. Hence we should focus on skill development, project development, and entrepreneurship. Along with physical infrastructure, we need to focus on skill forecast also,” PM Modi emphasised, as quoted by ANI.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) as the Lead Ministry in association with DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry as the Co-Lead Ministry organised the Webinar on infrastructure and investment today.
PM Modi also highlighted that the number of airports in the country has increased from 74 in 2014 to around 150 today.
According to the official press release by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, the breakout sessions covered suggestions on Budget announcements related to infrastructure and investment, their implementation, and the way forward.