Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has renewed a pledge to spend more than $1 trillion on infrastructure to create jobs for hundreds of thousands of young Indians and boost the economy. The 100-trillion rupee ($1.35 trillion) plan — called "Gati Shakti," which means momentum — was announced on India's 75th Independence Day. Modi said Sunday that it would "break the silos" preventing more efficient transportation in Asia's third-largest economy. "This will reduce the travel time for the common man and the productivity of our industry will also increase," he said during an address to the nation in the capital New Delhi. The Indian leader did not detail a time frame for when the plan would be rolled out, saying only that it would launch in the "near future." He added that it would go a "long way" toward making "local manufacturers globally competitive," without going into specifics. Modi frequently uses the anniversary of the India's independence to make ambitious proposals for its future, including spending on infrastructure, one of his key goals for economic development. Last year, the leader promised to spend a similar amount on infrastructure "to pull the people and the economy of our country out of this [coronavirus] pandemic." "It is often said that during crises, the emphasis should be given on infrastructure so that economic activity is [faster] and people get employment and it generates a cascading effect," he said in a speech on Aug. 15, 2020. Creating jobs and boosting the economy has become critical for the Indian government after the country fell into recession for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century last year as it grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. A sweeping, months-long national lockdown placed severe restrictions on business activity and travel. The country had just begun to claw out of recession earlier this year, when a brutal second wave of the pandemic hit this spring. In his Sunday address, Modi also pledged to make India energy independent by 2047. The country spends 12 trillion rupees ($161 billion) each year importing energy, he added. "For India's progress and to build a self-reliant India, India's energy independence is the need of the hour," he said. Modi added that he wants India to increase its reliance on natural gas, ultimately becoming a "gas-based economy." "In Jammu and Kashmir, the developments are seen on the ground... Be it the entire Himalayan region including our Eastern India, North East, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, our Coastal Belt or tribal areas, these will become the major basis for India's development in future," he added. He also wants Indian railways to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030. He also announced plans to introduce fortified rice for the poor under different government schemes and a National Hydrogen Mission in view of climate change. "We have to make India a hub for production and export of Green Hydrogen," he said. "Now we have to move towards saturation. 100% villages have roads, 100% households have bank accounts, 100% beneficiaries have Ayushman Bharat cards, 100% eligible persons have Ujjwala gas connections," Modi said Sainik Schools will be opened to girls and 75 Vande Bharat trains will be connecting every corner of the country in 75 weeks of the Amrit Festival of Independence, Modi said. He also greeted the Olympians present on the occasion, saying, "I urge the nation to applaud their achievement today. They have not only won our hearts but also inspired future generations". Thirty-two athletes — including those who won medals at the Olympics — were invited to participate in the celebrations at the iconic Red Fort. — Agencies with inputs from CNN
