How India pulled 500 million people out of poverty, as inequality deepens

India witnessed a decline in extreme poverty and significant improvements to urban transport infrastructure over the past 12 years, as reported by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to a World Bank report, approximately 50 crore people were lifted out of extreme poverty during this period, marking a shift from slogans to tangible progress in poverty reduction.

Modi underscored the government's focus on empowering the poor and delivering effective governance, which he believed were key to India's development. The Prime Minister inaugurated Pune Metro Line 3 via video conference, noting that the country's operational metro network expanded from 248 km to 1,200 km since 2014. This expansion, including the recent 23-km-long Pink Line, is expected to alleviate daily commutes for IT professionals, reduce traffic congestion, and decrease reliance on private vehicles.

Modi also announced the foundation stones for four new metro corridors under Phase-II, with an estimated investment of ₹21,800 crore. These corridors, covering key residential, commercial, and IT hubs, are part of the government's commitment to enhancing urban infrastructure. Additionally, Modi laid the foundation stone for Pune Metro Phase-II, estimated to cost around ₹13,500 crore, which will further expand the city's metro network.

Modi emphasized that better urban infrastructure is crucial for accelerating India's economic growth. He also highlighted ongoing drought relief efforts for farmers in Maharashtra, assuring full support from the Union government. The Prime Minister assured farmers that the government would stand with them during the difficult times, citing the PM-KISAN scheme and other welfare measures.