Reaffirming that “national policy must remain above party politics,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched two landmark infrastructure projects in Mumbai — Phase 1 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) and Phase 2B of the underground Metro Line-3.
The Prime Minister said these projects symbolise the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’, serving as catalysts for growth, connectivity, and employment in the country’s financial capital.
Speaking at the event, Modi declared, “We come from a tradition where the nation’s interests are the foundation of our politics.”
He emphasised that every rupee invested in infrastructure represents a commitment to empowering citizens and expanding opportunities.
In contrast, he criticised the Opposition, accusing previous administrations — particularly the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government — of halting progress for political expediency.
While we focus on development, others have always placed politics above public welfare. They thrive on scams, corruption, and obstruction. The country has paid a heavy price for such short-sightedness,” the Prime Minister remarked.
Referring to the Mumbai Metro Line-3 project, Modi said it reflected the neglect of previous regimes. “I was present at the foundation-laying ceremony of this metro. It raised hopes for lakhs of families. Yet, when the previous government came to power, it stopped the work and wasted crores of rupees,” he said.
During his address, Modi also invoked Mumbai’s resilience and recalled the 2008 terror attacks, slamming the then Congress-led UPA government for its “weak response.” He contrasted it with his government’s Operation Sindoor, which, he said, demonstrated India’s new approach of “befitting replies” to terrorism.
Citing former Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s recent remarks about international pressure following 26/11, Modi demanded that the Opposition clarify “which foreign power” had influenced the decision to halt military retaliation. “The army was ready, the country wanted justice, yet a foreign hand stopped our response — the Opposition must answer to the people,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Modi toured the Navi Mumbai International Airport, spread across 1,600 acres and built at a cost of ₹19,650 crore. The airport will handle 20 million passengers annually, with operations beginning in December. Airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Ai, have already announced their flight plans from NMIA.
This airport will transform the Mumbai Metropolitan Region into one of Asia’s largest connectivity hubs,” Modi said. “It will not only boost tourism and business but also enable Maharashtra’s farmers to access global markets in the Middle East and Europe.”
Highlighting the aviation boom, the Prime Minister said India has grown from 74 airports in 2014 to 160 today, and domestic airlines have placed orders for over 1,000 aircraft — a development he said would generate vast employment in maintenance, repairs, and overhaul (MRO) services.
“By the end of this decade, India aims to become a global MRO hub,” he added.
Referring to his government’s Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) initiative, Modi recalled, “In 2014, I had said that even those wearing hawai chappals should be able to fly.
Today, air travel is no longer the privilege of a few — it has become accessible to the common man.”
The newly launched Metro Line-3 Phase 2B, connecting South Mumbai to the western suburbs, will drastically cut travel time. “Journeys that once took over two hours will now take just 30–40 minutes,” the Prime Minister said, underscoring how infrastructure directly improves quality of life.
Modi also launched the Mumbai One App, India’s first integrated urban mobility platform, which allows users to access bus, metro, monorail, and suburban rail services across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) through a single digital ticket — a major step toward seamless transport integration.
During the ceremony, Modi paid tribute to Maharashtra’s Lokneta D. B. Patil, recalling his “unwavering dedication” to farmers and social causes.
Turning to the economy, Modi attributed the recent surge in festival season spending to the GST reforms, which, he said, have strengthened the purchasing power of ordinary citizens.
He urged people to promote swadeshi (indigenous) goods during Diwali, stressing that local products sustain local livelihoods. Swadeshi should become a household mantra.
When we buy Indian-made clothes, sweets, or gadgets, we are not just purchasing items — we are securing jobs for Indian youth and keeping our wealth within the country,” Modi said.
The event was attended by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Union Ministers Ramdas Athawale and Murlidhar Mohol, and Japan’s Ambassador to India Keiichi Ono, among others.
With these two ambitious projects, Mumbai takes another leap toward becoming a global city that reflects India’s aspirations for Viksit Bharat — a nation of robust infrastructure, innovation, and inclusive growth.
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