Not just India, the entire world knows that India is the best bet for the 21st century,” Modi said in his inaugural address at the 4th edition of the Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet and Expo (RE-Invest 2024) at Mahatma Mandir Exhibition and Convention Centre in Gandhinagar.
The three-day summit will witness the participation of some 25,000 delegates from across 140 countries, more than 200 speakers and over 115 B2B meetings.
States aim for 500 GW target
Chief ministers of five states and senior ministers from other states participated in a plenary session at RE-Invest 2024. The CMs presented initiatives taken in the field of renewable energy (RE) and showed confidence that they will be able to achieve the cumulative target of reaching 500GW electricity generation through RE resources by 2030.
The participants included Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma, Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav, Goa CM Pramod Sawant, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, Telangana deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, and Gujarat energy minister Kanu Desai.
‘India will need $160bn in green finance’
World Bank experts flagged the huge gap between the requirements in green finance – investment and monetary support for environment-friendly initiatives – and the actual investment and aid inflow. Participating in the event, the experts said that India has currently got about $44 billion in green finance, but the actual requirement to meet the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations in the stipulated time frame is $160 billion, which is four times the amount.
Metro line inaugurated
The first Metro train service from Motera to Sector 1 in Gandhinagar on the newly inaugurated corridor was flagged off by PM Modi. The PM boarded the train from Sector 1 and travelled up to the city. During the nearly 10-minute journey, the PM interacted with school students. The Metro officials said that the commercial run of the train was halted after the inaugural run on Monday. The regular service will commence from Tuesday.
Bhuj-A’bad Namo Bharat Rapid Rail
The first Namo Bharat Rapid Rail service from Ahmedabad to Bhuj was flagged off from Bhuj, along with five Vande Bharat Express trains to various destinations and the first 20-coach Vande Bharat Express between Varanasi and New Delhi, by PM Modi. The five Vande Bharat Express trains flagged off were from to Nagpur to Secunderabad (577 km), Agra Cantt to Banaras (573 km), Durg to Visakhapatnam (565km), Pune to Hubballi (557km) and Kolhapur to Pune (326km).
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stones for the quadrupling of the Gandhidham Adipur and Samakhiali – Gandhidham rail lines. The two projects will enhance port connectivity and give impetus to imports and exports through ports in Kutch. These will also help in speedy transportation of salt from the area.
Birthday celebration
PM Modi marked his 74th birthday with a visit to Odisha and the inauguration of key welfare schemes, including ‘Subhadra Yojana’ – the financial assistance scheme to provide ₹10,000 to over 10 million poor women every year. Modi also inaugurated 26,00,000 PM Awas houses at Gadakana in Bhubaneswar.
Slams opposition
Speaking at an event in Ahmedabad where he launched projects worth £800 mn, Modi mounted a scathing attack on the opposition alleging certain individuals filled with hate and negativity are defaming the country. Amid a row over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on reservation in the US and the Congress’ poll tie-up with National Conference, Modi said, “Some people filled with negativity are targeting India’s unity and integrity intending to divide the country. Those filled with hate are not leaving any chance to defame India and Gujarat.”
Referring to demands made by leaders of the National Conference for restoration of Article 370 and statehood to J&K, Modi said: “You have heard they want to bring back Article 370 in J&K, they want to bring back two Constitutions and two laws in (poll-bound) J&K,” Modi said.
