Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off two Vande Bharat trains at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai, reiterating the need for improving public transport for India of the 21st century.

The two trains are Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat and Mumbai-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat. The PM also dedicated two road projects to the nation– the Santacruz Chembur Link Road and THE Kurar underpass project– to ease road traffic congestion and streamline the movement of vehicles in Mumbai.

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Addressing a gathering, Modi said it was a huge day for Railways in India, especially for advanced connectivity in Maharashtra as this was the first time that two Vande Bharat trains have been flagged off on the same day.

He underlined that these Vande Bharat trains would connect economic centers such as Mumbai and Pune to centers of faith, thereby benefiting those traveling for college, office, business, pilgrimage and agricultural purposes.

He said that traveling to sacred places like Shirdi, Nasik, Trimbakeshwar, and Panchvati would be made easier with the new Vande Bharat trains which would give a boost to tourism as well as pilgrimage. “The pilgrimages of Pandharpur, Solapur, Akkalkot and Tuljapur will also be made more accessible with the Solapur Vande Bharat Express,” he said.

The PM said the Vande Bharat train was a grand picture of modern India. “It is a reflection of India’s speed and scale.” Commenting on the speed of the launch of Vande Bharat trains, He noted that so far, ten Vande Bharat trains have started operating connecting 108 districts of 17 states of the country.

Modi said improved public transport would lead to massive ease of living for the citizens. This thinking, he pointed out, was behind the launch of modern trains, the expansion of the Metro, and new airports and ports.

The Union Budget has also strengthened this thinking as for the first time Rs ten lakh crore were allocated exclusively for infrastructure development. In this the share of Railways was Rs 2.5 lakh crore, he added.

“The middle class has been strengthened in this budget”, the PM said and underlined that the needs of both the salaried class and those who own businesses have been addressed in the budget.

He expressed confidence that the budget would promote the spirit of ‘Sabka Vikas Sabka Prayas’, give strength to every family and encourage everyone to build a Viksit Bharat.