Jind (Haryana), Jul 17: Indian Railways would have come to a standstill had the situation from the West Asia conflict arisen before 2014 because most trains then ran on diesel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday while stressing that nearly 99 per cent of the network has been electrified in the 12 years of his government.
In a broadside against the Congress-led UPA government after flagging off India’s first hydrogen-powered train connecting Jind to Sonipat in Haryana, the prime minister said the country has “got another gain” because of big changes that had taken place in Indian Railways since his government came to power.
The country, he said, has taken a giant leap towards green mobility with the hydrogen train.
“You are seeing that for past several months, war has been going on in West Asia, across the entire region of (Strait of) Hormuz, involving Iran and the Gulf. It is through this sea route that India receives a huge quantity of petrol, diesel, LPG gas and fertilisers for our farmers. But for the last three to four months, this route has continuously remained a battlefield…,” he said.
Modi went on to ask what would have happened had this taken place before 2014 when his government came to power.
“The work of India’s Railways would have come to a complete standstill. At that time, a large part of our country was such that our trains used to run on diesel only. Had diesel supplies been disrupted then, how would diesel-powered trains have operated?
“The country would have faced a massive crisis. But friends, this is not the situation of 2014. It is Modi who thinks well before and also turns solutions to problems into reality on the ground,” he said.
The prime minister said electrification of Indian Railways began in 1925, almost 100 years ago but in the nine decades from then to 2014 only 30 per cent of the country’s railway network was electrified.
“The remaining 70 per cent depended on diesel. At the pace at which only 30 per cent was completed in those 90 years, it would have taken another 200 years to achieve full electrification. Indian Railways might never have been fully electrified and would have continued to rely on diesel,” he said.
But in the past 12 years, nearly 99 per cent of India’s railway network has been electrified and in Haryana, the railway network has been electrified 100 per cent, he said.
“As a result, despite the war and the resulting oil supply crisis, India’s railways did not come to a halt. The country’s development did not come to a standstill. Trains continued to run without interruption,” he said.
Modi also spoke about his recent visits to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand and stated that India signed several agreements during these visits, which received widespread attention.
“However, one important subject did not receive as much discussion. It concerns the youth of our country, especially the youth of Haryana, and that is sports,” said Modi.
The prime minister said he held extensive discussions with the governments of Australia and New Zealand on the matter.
“In the coming years, we will work closely with both countries in areas such as the sports industry, athlete training, and several other related fields. This collaboration will greatly benefit the youth of Haryana,” he said.
He said today sports in India are being promoted as a major avenue for fitness and employment.
“Our government has introduced a new National Sports Policy, ‘Khelo Bharat Niti’. From the Khelo India campaign to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, athletes today are receiving unprecedented support. They are being provided with substantial financial assistance. Here in Haryana too, the BJP government is strongly encouraging sports and supporting athletes,” said Modi.
He said though today’s programme was about the hydrogen train and other development projects, he also wants to say something to the youth gathered here.
“You all know that India will host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, and our country is also trying that 2036 Olympic Games take place in India,” he said, adding athletes must prepare with full dedication and determination.
“I assure you that the BJP’s double-engine government will provide every possible facility to help them succeed,” he said.
