New Delhi, Aug 15 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday outlined an ambitious roadmap for India’s development, stressing the need to think bigger and set bold national goals as he highlighted the country’s push in nuclear energy, deep-sea exploration, energy security, solar power, railway electrification and hydrogen technology.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on India’s 80th Independence Day, PM Modi said a nation’s progress depends not only on the resources available to it but also on its ability to think ambitiously, strengthen its capabilities and pursue bigger goals.
“Many times, a nation does not stop because of a lack of resources, but progress stops when its thinking capability becomes limited, and its strength to aim big is reduced. We do not need small dreams; we should dream big. Big dreams increase the pace of progress. When the resolve is firm, possibilities find their own way. Our resolve should also be high, because when we take a pledge, the height of our dreams also rises.”
On nuclear energy, PM Modi said India was setting an ambitious target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 and would begin work on five new nuclear reactors.
“By 2047, we are aiming for 100 GW of nuclear power. We are going to start five new nuclear reactors. This year, India has achieved new heights in nuclear technology, and we have also achieved success in becoming Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) in nuclear technology.”
The Prime Minister also announced a major push for exploration of India’s offshore and deep-sea resources, saying areas that had earlier been designated as ‘no-go areas’ were now being opened up for exploration.
“Our coastline was left without exploration, and 99 per cent of the coastal and offshore areas that had been declared ‘no-go areas’ and where it had been decided not to explore, have now been made ‘go-ahead areas’. We are now progressing towards exploration in the deep sea.”
Highlighting the importance of energy security, PM Modi pointed to the rapid expansion of piped gas infrastructure and the growth of solar power.
“Energy security is important. We need to put our strength into the energy sector. Before 2014, only 70 cities in our country had access to piped gas facilities, but in 12 years we have taken that number from 70 cities to 700 cities. This is called speed.”
He added: “Today, almost 2 crore households receive gas through pipelines. Earlier, India’s solar energy capacity was only 2 GW, but today we have achieved 107 GW.”
PM Modi also highlighted the expansion of rooftop solar systems and their impact on household electricity expenses.
“The target of providing solar energy to 50 lakh houses has been completed. Because of this, the electricity burden has been reduced, and households are becoming free from electricity bills. Every family is receiving assistance of around Rs 80,000 from the government.”
On railway electrification, the Prime Minister highlighted what he described as a sharp acceleration in the pace of work.
“The electrification of our railways started in 1925, and in 90 years, from 1925, only 30 per cent of the rail network had been electrified. But in 10 years, we took electrification from 30 per cent to 70 making it 100 per cent. This is the kind of work that has been done. This is called progress.”
PM Modi also highlighted India’s progress in hydrogen technology, pointing to the country’s first hydrogen-powered train.
“India has touched new heights in fuel technology. The country’s first hydrogen-powered train has recently started. This is the first of its kind. India has made its place in the field of hydrogen-powered trains.”
The Prime Minister’s remarks formed part of his broader vision of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047, with the development agenda centred on ambitious targets, technological self-reliance, energy security and faster infrastructure growth.