New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern Tuesday about old buildings collapsing in India’s cities, and several catching fire.
These are causes for major concern, the Prime Minister said, stressing on the need to follow civic rules to avoid such mishaps.
Collapse of old buildings and buildings catching fire in cities a major concern; this can be avoided if rules followed: PM Modi
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 20, 2022
Modi’s observation came on a day when a building wall in a Noida residential complex came down, killing four workers. Indian cities have regularly reported crumbling buildings, a phenomenon aggravated by the monsoon.
In the end of June, 19 people died under debris when a four-storey building gave way in Mumbai’s Kurla.
On a positive note, Modi — who was virtually addressing a BJP mayors’ conference in Gandhinagar — lauded the fact that the metro rail network in the country had expanded to 775 kilometres from less than 250 in 2014.
He said tier 2 and tier 3 cities have now become the “centre of economic activity.” “We should focus on developing industry clusters in those areas. Small vendors must be trained to use digital payment systems. Mayors must take initiatives to ensure this, the Prime Minister said.
Modi reminded his party mayors that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel began his journey as one of them. “We shall follow his path for a better India and work for its development. All mayors must follow the ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Prayas’ initiative,” he told the Council of BJP mayors and deputy mayors in the country.
He urged mayors to utilise the conference to chalk out a roadmap for India’s urban development for the next 25 years.
“Our country trusts the BJP. It is the responsibility of all mayors to work at the grassroots. Better facilities should be provided and growth should be well planned,” he said.
Also read: Gujarat section of Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train to begin by 2027, says official