More rural Internet users, India tops in digital transactions: PM

New Delhi, April 8

India has more rural Internet users than urban, has the most inexpensive mobile data and the nation is world’s number one in digital transactions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Chennai on Saturday.

Modi flagged off the Chennai-Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express at the MGR Chennai Central railway station.

“The wonderful cities of Chennai and Coimbatore have even better connectivity thanks to the Vande Bharat Express. Flagged off the train and also met young friends on the occasion,” Modi tweeted. The PM was accompanied by Governor of Tamil Nadu RN Ravi, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin and Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The PM also inaugurated the new integrated terminal building of the Chennai airport. Developed at a cost of Rs 1,260 crore, the addition of this new terminal building will increase the passenger serving capacity of the airport from 23 million passengers per annum to 30 million per annum.

Modi also participated in the 125th anniversary celebrations of Ramakrishna Math at Vivekananda House in Chennai. Upon arriving at the venue, the PM paid floral tributes and performed puja and meditation in Swami Vivekananda’s room. The PM also released a book on the occasion.

Drawing an analogy to Swami Vivekananda’s vision that society progresses when privilege is broken and equality is ensured, Modi said the same vision applied in all the flagship programmes of the government. He said earlier, even basic facilities were treated like privileges and only a handful of people or small groups were allowed to access these. However, now, the doors of development had been opened to everyone.