Vadodara: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a swipe at the political opponents while explaining the wider economic benefits of the Dedicated Freight Corridor. He used the phrase “naraz fufa ji” (literal meaning annoyed uncle) to dismiss an imagined objection that faster freight trains could hurt truck operators.
While describing the operation of a double-stack container freight train between JNT Port in Mumbai and Vadodara, PM Modi said one such train could carry cargo equivalent to more than 250 trucks.
“The annoyed uncle will shout: what will happen to the truck operators? Where will the trucks go? What will happen to those who bought trucks?” PM Modi said, referring to the critics as “naraz fufa ji”.
His broader point was that rail freight would not eliminate road transport but would allow large volumes of goods to move rapidly across the country, while trucks could continue to perform other transport functions.
The Prime Minister presented the freight corridor as an addition to India’s logistics capacity rather than a replacement for existing modes of transportation.
The remarks came as PM Modi dedicated the final key sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor in Vadodara, completing the Dedicated Freight Corridor network.
The three sections cover 326 route kilometres and were developed at a cost of more than Rs 20,700 crore. The completed network is intended to separate freight and passenger traffic, increase cargo capacity and reduce transit times.
The Prime Minister used another political formulation in his speech, contrasting what he called misleading claims with his government’s presentation of development figures.
“There are people at every crossroads who can mislead you with jooth ki goonj (echo of lies). But India’s youth move with the sach ki hunkar (call of truth) and they move for the call of truth,” he asserted.
The remarks were made while discussing India’s expansion in renewable energy and emerging technologies.
“The country is focusing on solar, wind, hydro and nuclear energy because future industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, data centres and artificial intelligence would require large amounts of reliable electricity,” he noted.
He said India has developed more than 200 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity and referred to the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, saying “55 lakh families across the country have installed rooftop solar systems, including 11 lakh families in Gujarat”.
PM Modi linked the growth of renewable energy with employment, saying the expansion had created opportunities in production, installation and servicing and had brought new vendors into the market.
He also said India is working to secure supplies of uranium, critical minerals and rare-earth minerals through international agreements, describing the effort as part of preparations for the future of young Indians.
The Prime Minister then shifted to skills and artificial intelligence, saying the changing economy required young people to acquire skills alongside formal degrees.
He noted that the government is moving towards providing free online coaching for students preparing for competitive examinations, with teaching from what he described as “the country’s best teachers”.
He also said a major government campaign would be launched to prepare young people for artificial intelligence.
“AI skills would not be limited to the IT sector and could be applied in agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and robotics,” he said.
“India’s youth must become proficient in AI,” he added, noting that young people could use the technology to develop agricultural solutions, healthcare applications, manufacturing improvements and robotics start-ups.
The Vadodara programme involved projects worth more than Rs 35,000 crore across railways, highways, housing, water supply, urban development and renewable energy. Three WDFC sections were dedicated to the nation, while new rail services were flagged off and foundations laid for additional railway and highway projects.
(IANS)
