PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off Kerala’s first Vande Bharat Express and dedicated to the nation various developmental projects, including the Kochi Water Metro, and said as States develop, the country will develop faster. The PM laid foundation stone and dedicated projects worth more than Rs 3,200 crores at the Central Stadium here. He said the Central Government lays emphasis on cooperative federalism and believes that if the States develop, it will help in the development of the country. “The Central Government lays emphasis on cooperative federalism. It believes that development of the States is the key to the development of the nation. So if Kerala develops, only then will India develop faster,” Modi said. On a two-day visit of the southern State starting on Monday, the PM earlier today flagged off the State’s maiden Vande Bharat Express service, which will connect the State capital with Kasaragod, Kerala’s northernmost district. Addressing a massive crowd at the stadium, Modi -- dressed in a traditional Kerala attire of ‘kasavu’ mundu, shawl and kurta -- said Keralites were literate, hardworking, capable, intellectual and aware about the economic situations in the countries across the world. Despite global headwinds, India has been globally seen as the ‘Vibrant Spot of Development’, Modi said.

The PM added there were several reasons behind the world’s belief in India and these were a decisive Government at the Centre, unparalleled investments in the infrastructure development by it, investments for reaping demographic dividend, skilling of youth and the Central Government’s commitment to ‘Ease of Living’ and ‘Ease of Doing Business’. He said one of the reasons for the growing stature of the country was the outreach efforts of the Central Government and it has benefited the Keralites living abroad.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw echoed similar views when said at the event that prior to 2014 the southern state got only Rs 370 crore for railway development, whereas this year the allocation stood at Rs 2,033 crore.

Both the PM and Vaishnaw highlighted the work being carried out to enhance the speed of trains, like Vande Bharat Express, on the tracks in the State. Modi further said that not just physical connectivity but digital connectivity too was a priority for the country. “Projects like Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram will give a fillip to Digital India,” he said and highlighted the global appreciation for India’s digital system. The PM said investments made towards connectivity not only expand the scope of services but also reduce the distance between various cultures without discriminating between caste and creed or the rich and poor.