Modi: Opposition Upheld Unjust, Regressive Laws In Power
PM inaugurates Rs 11,000 cr projects to ease traffic, boost Delhi-NCR connectivity
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2025-08-17 09:32 GMT
New Delhi: Emphasising the need to develop Delhi as a model of growth “where everyone can truly feel that it is the capital of a developing and confident India,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated two major national highway projects worth nearly ₹11,000 crore. Addressing a public rally in Rohini, the Prime Minister also took a swipe at the Opposition, saying those “who dance with a copy of the Constitution on their head” had, while in power, maintained unjust and regressive laws and trampled the spirit of the Constitution. He further claimed that Opposition parties have been unable to digest the BJP’s success in Delhi and the adjoining states of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway and the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the capital and surrounding areas. Once fully operational, these projects are expected to cut travel time significantly between Sonipat, Rohtak, Bahadurgarh, Gurugram, and the IGI Airport. He remarked that such large-scale investment not only creates infrastructure but also generates employment opportunities.
Affirming his government’s commitment to transform Delhi into a world-class city, Modi also mentioned the Centre’s proposal to simplify the GST law and revise tax rates, one of the key announcements he had made in his Independence Day speech.
Citing recent infrastructure additions such as the new Central Secretariat, Bharat Mandapam, and Yashobhoomi, the Prime Minister said Delhi is “emerging as a capital that bridges India’s glorious past with its promising future.” He added, “Today’s India is defined by its aspirations, dreams, and resolutions. The entire world looks at India and evaluates its progress, and its first glance falls upon the national capital, Delhi.”
Citing recent infrastructure additions such as the new Central Secretariat, Bharat Mandapam, and Yashobhoomi, the Prime Minister said Delhi is “emerging as a capital that bridges India’s glorious past with its promising future.” He added, “Today’s India is defined by its aspirations, dreams, and resolutions. The entire world looks at India and evaluates its progress, and its first glance falls upon the national capital, Delhi.”
Modi also highlighted that UER-II has the unique distinction of repurposing millions of tonnes of waste for its construction. “This innovative approach has not only reduced the towering heaps of garbage but also turned waste into a valuable resource for infrastructure development,” he said.
Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari, who was present at the event, said the two projects would help reduce traffic congestion in Delhi by nearly 50 per cent.
Earlier, the Prime Minister interacted with labourers while inspecting the Dwarka Expressway and also held a roadshow at the Mundka-Bakkarwala Village Toll Plaza.
Underscoring Delhi’s importance as a national and global hub, Modi reiterated that developments such as the new Parliament building, Kartavya Bhavan (Central Secretariat), Bharat Mandapam, and Yashobhoomi are positioning the capital as a premier destination for business and commerce. “With the strength and inspiration of these initiatives, Delhi will rise as one of the finest capitals in the world,” he said.
Taking another dig at the Opposition, the Prime Minister accused previous governments of enacting unjust laws. “Those people who dance with a copy of the Constitution on their heads are the same who trampled it and betrayed the vision of B.R. Ambedkar,” he said, citing an example from the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act under which sanitation workers could be jailed for a month for failing to report for duty without prior notice. “Earlier governments treated them like slaves. And today these same parties talk big about social justice,” he said, adding that his government is repealing such regressive laws.
Asserting that India’s strength lies in its ancient culture and heritage, Modi said this cultural legacy reflects a profound philosophy of life. Referring to the dual imagery of “Chakradhari Mohan” (Lord Krishna, symbolising power through the Sudarshan Chakra) and “Charkhadhari Mohan” (Mahatma Gandhi, symbolising the Swadeshi spirit through the spinning wheel), he said India continues to draw inspiration from both.
The 10.1-km Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway has been built at a cost of around ₹5,360 crore. It will also provide multi-modal connectivity to Yashobhoomi, the Delhi Metro’s Blue and Orange lines, the upcoming Bijwasan railway station, and the Dwarka cluster bus depot. The 19-km Haryana section of the expressway had been inaugurated by the Prime Minister in March 2024.
The Alipur to Dichaon Kalan stretch of UER-II, along with new links to Bahadurgarh and Sonipat, has been constructed at a cost of about ₹5,580 crore. The project is expected to ease traffic on Delhi’s Inner and Outer Ring Roads as well as key bottlenecks like Mukarba Chowk, Dhaula Kuan, and NH-09. The new spurs will provide direct access to Bahadurgarh and Sonipat, improve industrial connectivity, cut city traffic, and speed up goods movement across the NCR.