Prime Minister Modi dedicates to the nation 765 kV Solapur - Raichur transmission lines, and four laning of Pune - Solapur section of NH-9

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, today outlined a comprehensive vision for new modes of infrastructure development in the country, which would include nationwide connectivity networks of roads, power transmission lines, gas grids and water grids.

In a function at Solapur, the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation 765 kV Solapur - Raichur transmission lines, and four laning of Pune - Solapur section of NH-9.

Modi said, "The dream of our Government - all 7 days a week, all 365 days a year, 24 hours every village should get electricity. We have to increase power production and we also have to conserve electricity."

The Prime Minister called upon students to take the lead in a nationwide movement to reduce electricity bills of their family. This too would be a form of service to the nation, he added. Students should exhort all family members to join in this movement, he said.

"If the electricity bill can be saved it is a great service to the poor. It should be in our nature to conserve electricity. Let us pledge to conserve electricity. It will help our families the most," he added.

The Prime Minister shared the concern expressed by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, over power plants being idle due to shortage of coal and gas. He, however, added that he had been raising this concern as Chief Minister of Gujarat. He said the Union Government would do all it could to ensure enough fuel for power plants. Coal would be extracted in a way that did not harm the environment.

Giving the example of South Korea, the Prime Minister said across the world, countries which had invested in infrastructure creation, had reaped the fruits of development and prosperity. He asserted that roads and highways development will be given priority by the new Government, drawing inspiration from the Golden Quadrilateral and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana launched by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"Road network is important and along with that we also have to increase Rail network. With infrastructure comes more employment," Prime Minister Modi said.

"Today the nation wants Highways and I-ways or Information Ways. Every village must be integrated," he added.

The Prime Minister referred to the Union Government's decision to grant permission to raise the height of the Narmada Dam. He said this decision had been pending for years, and the new Government had taken a decision on it soon after assuming office. He said once this project is completed, Maharashtra would get electricity worth Rs. 400 crore, free, every year.

Greeting the people of Solapur who had gathered in large numbers for the function, the Prime Minister assured them that he would return the gift of their love through development.

He said Solapur was a well established centre for textile industry, and revitalization of this industry was among the priorities of the Union Government.

Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal, and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prirhviraj Chavan also spoke on the occasion.