Chandigarh, September 5 - Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal said that metro service is expanding rapidly in the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Where till 2014 there was 248 km of metro service in only 5 cities, it has now been increased to 1066 km of metro service in 24 cities and 970 km of metro service is in the pipeline, after its completion, India will become the number one country in the world in providing metro service.
Shri Manohar Lal was speaking as the chief guest at the Gurugram Metro Bhoomi Pujan program organized under the auspices of Gurugram Metro Rail Limited at Gurugram University Campus Auditorium on Friday.
The program was led by Haryana Chief Minister Shri Naib Singh Saini while Haryana Industries and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh, MLA Gurugram Mukesh Sharma, Sohna MLA Tejpal Tanwar and Pataudi MLA Bimala Chaudhary were present.
The Union Minister and the Chief Minister also extended greetings and best wishes to the people present at the program on the holy festivals of Teachers' Day, Onam and Eid. Earlier, the construction work was started by performing the Bhoomi Pujan of the Metro service in Sector-44.
The Chief Guest in the program was Union Housing Minister Shri Manohar Lal along with Chief Minister Shri Naib Singh Saini, performed the Bhoomi Pujan of the 28.5 km long Metro corridor from Millennium City Center to Cyber ??City, Dwarka Expressway at a cost of Rs 5500 crore. 27 stations will be built on this project. This Metro service will connect the new and old Gurugram.

Wherever there is a need for metro, the Urban Affairs Ministry will fulfill it - Urban Housing Minister
Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal said that the metro service is being provided for the convenience of the general public. He assured that in the cities in the country where metro connectivity is required, the Urban Affairs Ministry will approve the metro service and complete it. He congratulated the people of Gurugram on the inauguration of the construction work of this new metro service project and said that providing better transportation facilities to the people through the metro will save time and money.
He said that the Urban Affairs Ministry will make 10 thousand buses available in the country at concessional rates, out of which 450 buses will be provided to Haryana and out of this 100 buses will be provided for the convenience of the people of Gurugram urban area.
He said that for better connectivity of the metro station, transportation facilities will be provided to the passengers through the app. In which security will also be guaranteed and fare can be paid with the metro card. This will get rid of the problem of parking.

Resolved to bring number one in cleanliness
Union Urban Minister Manohar Lal made the public resolve to include cleanliness in their nature in the program. He said that with the support of social and commercial organizations, everyone has to come together to make their area clean. He said that he has assured Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that everyone will contribute to bringing Gurugram urban area number one in cleanliness ranking. He thanked the Prime Minister for recently making two slabs of GST.

Metro corridor will give Gurugram a different identity - Chief Minister
Chief Minister Mr. Naib Singh Saini welcomed Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Mr. Manohar Lal on his arrival in Gurugram and said that he is grateful to the Central Government for gifting Gurugram with a new metro project. He said that today is a very historic day for Gurugram. Together, we are starting the dream that was awaited for years. The benefits of this metro service will be felt in the life of every citizen.
There will be less traffic jams on the road, travel time will be saved, pollution will be reduced and new employment opportunities will be created. He said that the metro stations have been thoughtfully placed where they are most needed. These include Subhash Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk, Udyog Vihar, Palam Vihar, Railway Station. He said that this project will be completed in the next four years and this corridor will give Gurugram a new identity.
He said that metro services from Rejangla Chowk to Dwarka Sector-21, from Sector-56 to Panchgaon as well as Namo Metro Corridor from Delhi to Karlal, from Delhi to Neemrana and from Gurugram to Noida via Faridabad are included in our plan. With these projects, Gurugram and the entire NCR will be connected more deeply. This metro is not just a means of transport but it is a symbol of progress.
Gurugram is becoming the center of economic power - Naib Singh.
Chief Minister Shri Naib Singh Saini said that Gurugram is an important center of economic power of India. It is home to major companies - IT, BPO, startups and automobile industry. He said that today Gurugram has become the home of more than 250 Fortune 500 companies. Not only this, most of the 19 unicorns located in Haryana are established in Gurugram.
Millions of people from all over the country and the world come here in search of employment, business and opportunities. I am proud that the city which was once known as a small village, is today known all over the world as the Millennium City. He proudly said that Gurugram city is third in per capita income in India after Chandigarh and Mumbai.

Haryana is moving forward under the leadership of the Prime Minister
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we are moving forward. We will do what we have said. Our policy, intention and leadership are clear. Under the leadership of Modi ji, the country has experienced a decisive and transparent government. There has been a unique change in the work culture. He said that our goal is that there will be balanced development of the entire Haryana. He assures that the Haryana government will leave no stone unturned in the development of Gurugram. Gurugram will be made the most developed city of the country.
Pollution will be controlled, traffic on the roads will be smooth - Rao Narbir Singh, Industry and Commerce
Haryana Industries and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh described the Gurugram Metro Rail Expansion Project as a historic step for the development of the city and the convenience of the citizens. He said that this project will not only provide the passengers with an option for safe, fast and comfortable travel, but will also help in controlling pollution and reducing the problem of traffic jams. He described it as a strong foundation for the socio-economic progress of Gurugram and said that through this, industrial and commercial activities will get a new impetus and investment opportunities will also increase. On this occasion, GMDA Chairman DS Dhesi, GMRL CEO Chandrashekhar Khare, Divisional Commissioner RC Bidan, CP Vikas Arora, DC Ajay Kumar, Municipal Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya, BJP District President Sarvpriya Tyagi and Ajit Yadav along with other dignitaries were present.