Kangana Ranaut on 11 years of Modi government: Keeping the promise

Indian Express

19 hours ago

Narendra Modi, infrastructure development, national highways, rail connectivity, Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link, Chenab Bridge, Anji Khad Bridge, urban transport, electric buses, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Saubhagya Scheme, Ayushman Bharat, Jan Dhan Yojana, Digital India, UPI, Subhadra Yojana, environmental sustainability, National Education Policy 2020, PM SHRI schools, PM-Kisan, Polavaram project, defense modernization, G20, foreign policy, economic reforms, GST, corporate tax, Startup India, Stand-Up India, Atal Innovation Mission, Chandigarh-Manali highway tunnels, Chenab Rail Bridge, Vande Bharat trains, self-reliant India, inclusive growth, global leadership
A political, economic, and social transformation has been underway in the past 11 years. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India has emerged as a self-reliant, inclusive, and globally respected nation. The foundation of this transformation rests on infrastructure. Connectivity was a major concern when PM Modi assumed office in 2014. Today more than 146,000 km of national highways — as against 91,000 km in 2014 — bridge the gap between rural and urban, between aspiration and opportunity.
The highways have been supplemented by a revolution in rail connectivity, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. The commissioning of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link and engineering marvels like the Chenab Bridge and the Anji Khad Bridge mark the victory of human will over terrain. Urban transport has also undergone a green transformation with the introduction of electric buses, including in the national capital.
The provision of housing has become a national mission. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is about providing dignity to the poorest — a rural family assigned a pucca house with electricity and toilets signals an end to generational poverty. The Saubhagya Scheme to provide electricity to nearly 3 crore unelectrified households has to be counted as a big public welfare success story. Electricity means security, education and economic activity for homes in rural India. Health sector reform, especially the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, has followed the path of inclusivity. Illness is no longer equated with bankruptcies.
The Jan Dhan scheme has led to financial inclusion. Subsidies, scholarships, pensions, and relief funds are routed through such accounts, obviating the need for a middleman.
The Digital India campaign is another success. UPI is today used by people across economic strata. Digital India is also about access and transparency — the two pillars of good governance. This revolution would not be complete without the recognition that Indian women should be at the forefront of this agenda. Subhadra Yojana is one such expression of this gender-sensitive policy approach.
Environmental issues have received importance. Syncing development with ecology has been part of the Modi government's credo. The National Education Policy, 2020, has addressed the future — AI, innovation, interdisciplinary research — while remaining rooted in India's heritage. Government school upgradation under the PM SHRI scheme made sure that the policy was translated into action. Agriculture has undergone structural change. PM-Kisan provides income support to 11 crore farmers every year. Projects such as the Polavaram irrigation scheme tried to solve the problems of water availability.
On defence, the government's message has been unequivocal — India will not ignore the strategic requirements at its frontiers. On the global stage, India found a more confident voice. From G20 summits to diplomatic dialogues, India emerged not just as a participant, but a shaper of global narratives. Our foreign policy reflects pride in our civilisational identity while adapting to 21st-century realities.
The economy has remained resilient in the face of global uncertainties. Reforms ranging from GST to cutting corporate tax made India an investment hub. The country is among the world's fastest-growing economies. Job creation was facilitated by the sheer volume of infrastructure development.
The welfare model has empowered people. From ending redundant laws to creating simplified tax systems, the effort has been to make government effective and citizen-friendly. The youth have been at the core of the government's initiatives. Startup India, Stand-Up India, and the Atal Innovation Mission empower a generation to be job creators.
India has seen massive infrastructure transformation; two examples are the Chandigarh–Manali highway tunnels and the Chenab Rail Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, the road to Manali was riddled with traffic jams, landslides, and long travel hours. With the construction of more than 14 tunnels and multiple bypasses, the travel time has been cut by almost four hours. Equally remarkable is the Chenab Bridge. Connecting Katra to Srinagar through the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link, this bridge is a lifeline for the people of J&K. With the launch of Vande Bharat trains on this route, the region is now more connected than ever.
Modi government's 11 years have not merely been about numbers and schemes; they have been about fulfilling a vision. India is more secure, integrated, and future-ready.
The writer is the BJP MP for Mandi