India to Have the World's Second-Largest Urban Metro System in Next 2 years: Hardeep Singh Puri

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlights India's rapid progress in urban metro transport, projecting the country to soon have the world's second-largest metro system, with extensive discussions on modernizing the police force and fostering innovative solutions.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri recently highlighted India's significant progress in urban metro transport over the past decade. Speaking to a group of former judges, armed forces veterans, and intellectuals, Puri emphasized that India will soon have the world's second-largest urban metro system.

Puri noted that currently, one crore people use the metro daily, with 73 lakh riders in the Delhi capital region alone. Despite the city's expanding population, the metro system has made it easier for people to commute efficiently.

Presently, India has 945 kilometers of operational metro lines. An additional 1,000 kilometers are under construction, which will be completed in the next two and a half years. Once these projects are finished, India will boast the world's second-largest metro network.

Reflecting on the metro's origins, Puri credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for initiating the system in 2002. He also praised the current government’s efforts in expanding the metro infrastructure under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Puri also discussed the modernization of the police force. Reading from the BJP manifesto, he highlighted ongoing efforts to transform the police into a tech-savvy force through the police modernization scheme. This reform is part of a broader ecosystem of changes set to accelerate in the next five years.

Former Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi also spoke at the event, commending the Modi government for encouraging innovative thinking. Bassi, who has served under various administrations, noted that the Modi government particularly supports unconventional approaches to solving complex issues. He praised the government for its effective intelligence gathering and the absence of bomb attacks in Delhi over the past decade.

Bassi also highlighted the positive impact of the Delhi Metro's expansion on reducing traffic congestion. He shared that even people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds appreciate the government’s developmental efforts, hoping for similar growth in their home states.

The interaction provided a platform for distinguished guests to offer suggestions for new initiatives in Prime Minister Modi’s potential third term. Many participants believed that Modi’s leadership has significantly reduced tensions with Pakistan and expressed optimism about future developments in the region.

Overall, the event underscored the impressive advancements in India’s metro system and the government’s commitment to modernizing urban infrastructure and the police force.