PM inaugurates new airport complex at Prayagraj; launches development projects
17 Dec 2018
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated a new airport complex and an integrated command and control centre for the Kumbh Mela, at Prayagraj. He also visited the Akshay Vat in Prayagraj and dedicated to the nation, inaugurated, or laid foundation stone for various development projects at Andawa in Prayagraj.
He said the new airport terminal had been completed in a record time of one year.
Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated a 175 km long of sewerage network in Prayagraj, which will help prevent 78 million litres of sewage per day falling into Ganga. The sewage water, which would otherwise would have ended in Ganga, will be sent to sewage treatment plants at Salori, Kodra and Ponghat for treatment which earlier ended up in Ganga.
Addressing a large gathering, he said the government is working to ensure a clean Ganga, adding that the sewage treatment plants and beautification of Ghats would go a long way in this regard.
The prime minister also performed Ganga Pujan, and visited the Swachh Kumbh Exhibition.
He said pilgrims for the Ardh-Kumbh this time will also be able to visit the Akshay Vat as well. He said the government is taking all efforts to ensure good connectivity to Prayagraj. He said the projects would help both infrastructure and connectivity.
He said that the organisation of the Kumbh is not just a matter of faith, but also a matter of prestige, and every visitor to the Kumbh should be well taken care of. He said the Ardh-Kumbh would show how 'New India' encompasses both heritage and modernity.
The prime minister said that he wishes to caution the country that certain forces are trying to put undue pressure on the judiciary. He said these elements consider themselves to be above all institutions.
PM Modi reiterated the commitment of the government towards clean Ganga and informed the public about various initiatives taken up under the Namami Gange programme.
He also laid the foundation stone for two projects in the trans Ganga/Yamuna area under One City-One Operator scheme with sanctioned cost of Rs767.59 crore. The project is based on hybrid annuity based PPP mode that includes operations and maintenance of all the sewerage infrastructure for 15 years. These projects include Intersection and diversion (I&D) of sewage network, 7 sewage pumping stations and 3 STPs of total capacity 72 million litres per day (MLD) (Naini-42 MLD, Phaphamau-14 MLD and Jhusi- 16 MLD).
With these projects, there will be comprehensive sewerage coverage of Prayagraj, including areas on the other side of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.
The sanctioned projects will also involve rehabilitation and operations and maintenance of existing sewage treatment infrastructure at the cost of Rs904 crore. Rehabilitation projects include six existing STPs with a total capacity of 254 MLD located at Naini, Numayadahi, Rajapur, Kodra, Ponghat and Salori and operations and maintenance of 10 existing sewage pumping stations.
Under Namami Gange Programme, 10 projects have already been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs2,915.78 crore for creation of 779 km sewerage network and construction of 8 STPs having total capacity of 191 MLD.
Four projects have been completed during 2016 leading to the creation of sewage treatment capacity of 119 MLD and a laying of 129 km of sewerage network.
Two projects pertaining to sewerage district A&B in Prayagraj are under advance stage of execution and are expected to be completed by March 2019. These projects will lead to creation of 456 km of sewerage network and would feed to existing STPs at Naini and Numayadahi.
To Supplement the sanitation initiative of the Uttar Pradesh government for Kumbh Mela 2019, NMCG has sanctioned a financial assistance of Rs113 crore for the construction of 27,500 toilets and 20,000 urinals. An additional Rs16.68 crore has been sanctioned for 'Paint My City’ and other such activities. The 'Paint My City’ campaign is an initiative to connect people with the city and make it clean and beautiful on the eve of the Kumbh. Rs3.6 crore has been allocated for 16,000 dustbins and lining bags. Bioremediation projects have been also sanctioned for 53 drains.
The prime minister, who was on a day-long visit to Uttar Pradesh, visited the Modern Coach Factory in Rae Bareli today. At a public meeting, he flagged off the 900th coach, and a Humsafar Rake. He also dedicated to the nation, inaugurated, or laid the Foundation Stone for various development projects at Rae Bareli.
The prime minister said the projects that were dedicated, inaugurated, or for which foundation stones were laid, are cumulatively worth Rs1,000 crore.
The prime minister said the modern coach factory is providing jobs to youth, and will make Rae Bareli a global hub of rail coach manufacturing.
