Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the previous UPA government on Tuesday, stating that India had lost significant time due to “administrative inertia” as crucial infrastructure files languished between various offices. His remarks were made during an event in Vadodara, where he inaugurated important segments of the Dedicated Freight Corridor, a 2,800-kilometer project that has now reached completion.
Addressing a youthful audience, a demographic the government aims to engage, Modi emphasized that if the NDA government had operated at the same pace as the UPA, the freight corridor would not have been finished within their lifetimes. He underscored the urgency for India to adapt to the transformative changes brought by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The gathering of approximately 6,000 attendees included college students, government officials, party members, and social media influencers. After laying foundation stones and inaugurating various projects valued in the thousands of crores, Modi declared the freight corridor’s completion a “historic achievement for 21st-century India.” He recounted that the idea for a dedicated freight corridor, aimed at facilitating cargo transport nationwide, was first proposed in 2004 and a dedicated entity was established in 2006, but progress was minimal for many years.
Until 2014, he noted, project files merely circulated between offices without any advancement. Modi humorously remarked that even these files lacked the fortune to travel along a dedicated corridor. He pointed out that during the previous administration, not a single kilometer of the Freight Corridor was completed in nearly eight years. He described the handling of these project files with the Hindi expression “atakti, latakti, bhatakti,” meaning they were “stuck, hanging, and lost.”
Modi directly addressed the younger members of the audience, suggesting that had the country continued under the UPA’s operational methods, future generations would still be waiting for the project’s completion. He presented statistics illustrating the corridor’s impact: over 430 freight trains now operate daily on its two routes. A segment that previously took a freight train six and a half hours to traverse can now be completed in less than three hours, while the time for trucks to cover a distance has been reduced from about 30 hours to between 10 and 12 hours. He shared a recent achievement where a double-stack container train transferred goods equivalent to that of over 250 trucks from JNPT Port in Mumbai to Vadodara, adding a light-hearted comment regarding the concerns of “naaraaz fufajis,” or “angry uncles,” about potential job losses for truck drivers.
This term, used during a previous speech at Delhi’s Shri Ram College of Commerce, reflects the BJP’s strategy to connect with Generation Z in response to recent youth protests across the country. Modi’s message to young people was clear: they are too young to remember the challenges faced before his administration, and his leadership has ushered in improved governance. He characterized critics of his tenure as out of touch with the youth.
In light of ongoing issues related to paper leaks, Modi assured the youth that the government would provide free online coaching for competitive exam preparation, led by some of India’s finest educators, aiming to alleviate the financial burden of coaching fees on middle-class families.
Modi also discussed the significant role of AI, reiterating that the upcoming generation must be equipped for the AI era. He stated that for India to become a superpower in AI, a comprehensive ecosystem must be developed, which goes beyond just software engineers and IT firms. He highlighted that skills related to AI are applicable across multiple sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and robotics.
He elaborated on the future landscape where modern industries will rely on electricity and an integrated electric ecosystem. He stressed the importance of semiconductor manufacturing, data centers, and AI-driven industries, noting that such sectors depend heavily on electricity.
To support this vision, Modi explained that India is pursuing advancements in solar, wind, hydropower, and nuclear energy, while also forming partnerships with other nations for critical resources like uranium and rare-earth minerals. He emphasized that these efforts are crucial for the future of India’s youth.
Referencing Vadodara’s industrial legacy, Modi remarked on how the city has exemplified the synergy of education, skills, and industry for nearly 150 years. What began with textiles and tiles has evolved into a hub for oil and petrochemicals, and in recent decades, Vadodara has emerged as a significant center for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). He noted the remarkable advancements, including the first flight of India’s Made-in-India military transport aircraft, the C-295, which took off from the city.
During his visit to Vadodara, Modi inaugurated and laid the groundwork for projects exceeding Rs 35,200 crore, with railway initiatives comprising the largest portion. This included over Rs 30,766 crore in development projects associated with the Railways, marking a pivotal achievement in the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor’s progress.
