PM opens Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, hits out at critics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated the final sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, linking Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai with Dadri in Uttar Pradesh. The event marked the completion of the project, which the government has described as a critical piece of infrastructure for the country's economic growth.

Speaking at the ceremony, Modi took aim at Opposition critics, comparing them to a "naraz fufa" (grumpy uncle) who would manufacture grievances even over major national achievements. He specifically referenced concerns about the impact on truck drivers, suggesting such arguments were being raised to find fault with progress.

The Prime Minister also dismissed a recent student outreach campaign led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, referring to it as an "echo of lies." He urged young people to focus on factual development rather than political narratives, asserting that the nation's youth would stand with the truth.

Modi contrasted the pace of work under his administration with that of the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. He noted that while the project's concept dated back to 2004 and a special purpose vehicle was created in 2006, files remained stalled until 2014. He also cited the production of 50,000 modern rail coaches since 2014, a figure he claimed the previous regime could not match in terms of toilet construction over a decade.

The Prime Minister highlighted the corridor's role in separating freight and passenger traffic, which previously shared the same tracks, hampering both. He framed the project as a key driver of India's economic transformation and a component of a new manufacturing saga spanning "chips to ships."

At a separate event in Mumbai later in the day, Modi pointed to India's 7.8% real GDP growth as a sign of confidence for the global economy, noting the performance came during a challenging quarter marked by the impact of the West Asia conflict.