Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated 17 projects worth about Rs 1,200 crore at the Kangla Fort complex in Imphal, his first visit to Manipur since ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities in May 2023.
The projects included the new Manipur Police headquarters and civil secretariat at Mantripukhri, Manipur Bhawans in Delhi and Kolkata, IT SEZ Building, and Ima Markets in four districts. “Among the projects launched today, two are very important, the Manipur Urban Road Project worth over Rs 3,600 crore and the Manipur Info-Tech Development Project worth over Rs 500 crore,” Modi said, adding that the initiatives would boost road infrastructure in Imphal and “infuse new energy into Manipur’s bright future.”
Here are the highlights from PM Modi's speech from Imphal:
- Development projects will boost infrastructure, bring ease of living and employment to the youth of Manipur
- Now this time of the 21st century is the time of the North East. Therefore, the Government of India has continuously given priority to the development of Manipur. As a result, the development rate of Manipur is constantly increasing. Before 2014, the development rate of Manipur was less than one per cent. Now, Manipur is progressing many times faster than before.
- A new era of infrastructure development has begun in Manipur. The pace of building roads and national highways in Manipur has also increased many times. Work is also being done at a fast pace to reach every village here. I am satisfied to have worked for the infrastructure and roads for Manipur.
- Any kind of violence in Manipur is unfortunate. This violence is a great injustice to our ancestors and our future generations. Therefore, we have to take Manipur forward on the path of peace and development and we have to do it together.
- We have to take inspiration from Manipur’s contribution in the freedom struggle of India and in the defence of India. It was the land of Manipur where the Indian National Army hoisted the Indian flag for the first time. Netaji Subhash called Manipur the gateway to India’s freedom. This land has given many heroic sacrifices.
- Our government is moving forward taking inspiration from every such great personality of Manipur. Our government has taken another big step. Mount Harriet in Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been renamed as Mount Manipur. This is a tribute of 140 crore countrymen of India to the Manipuri freedom fighters.
- Be it Imphal or other parts of Manipur, new opportunities are being created for startups. IT special economic zones will further boost these startups. The first building of this zone has already been completed. The demand for a new civil secretariat was long-standing, and that has also been fulfilled.
- The government has significantly reduced GST, which will bring double benefits to the people of Manipur. Many daily-use items will now become cheaper, and the cost of cement and house construction will also come down. This will further boost development.
- In Operation Sindoor, 'valiant sons' of Manipur played key role.
- The Cental government is working on several projects to address issue of floods in Manipur.
- We have to build strong bridge between people of Hills and Valley in Manipur.
- I congratulate Sushila Karki on becoming Nepal's first female PM, it's shining example of women's empowerment. I am confident that appointment of Sushila Karki as Nepal's interim PM will pave way for peace, stability, prosperity. Over last two-three days, Nepal's youths are on roads, cleaning and painting buildings with sense of purity.
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