New Delhi [India], November 3 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for transforming hundreds of small cities into growth hubs, stressing that urban centres were not just places to live but also major centres of the country's economic activity.
Modi made the remarks while inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of Pune Metro projects worth around Rs 21,800 crore through video conferencing. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also participated in the programme. The Prime Minister also flagged off Pune Metro Line 3, also known as the Pink Line.
Addressing an event through video conferencing, Modi said the Urban Challenge Fund, approved in February this year, would provide ₹1 lakh crore in central government funding to attract investments worth lakhs of crores of rupees into cities in the coming years. 
"Our cities aren't just places to live. They're also major centers of the country's economic activity. We need to transform hundreds of small cities into growth hubs. With this vision in mind, the Urban Challenge Fund was approved in February of this year. The central government is providing ₹1 lakh crore in funding for this fund. The goal is to attract investments worth lakhs of crores of rupees to the country's cities in the coming years. I urge local bodies and private sector colleagues to step forward. We all need to work together on a mission mode," the PM said.
He added that the new line, for which work had commenced, would further strengthen connectivity between the older and newer parts of Pune.
"I am delighted that another line of the Pune Metro is being inaugurated today. Ten years ago, I had the opportunity to lay the foundation stone for the first phase of the project here in Pune. With the launch of the metro service between Hinjawadi and Shivajinagar, a major IT hub in Pune will now benefit from improved connectivity. The new line, for which work has commenced today, will further strengthen connectivity between the older and newer parts of Pune. I extend my heartiest congratulations to all the people of Pune and Maharashtra," he said.
Highlighting Pune's role in India's development, Modi said the city was emerging as a centre for IT, automotive, pharmaceuticals, startups, innovation and manufacturing.
"Today, Pune is shaping the new energy of a 'Viksit Bharat'. From IT, automotive, and pharmaceuticals to startups, innovation, and manufacturing—Pune is a place of dreams and aspirations for the youth of our nation. The strengthening of the local metro connectivity is set to provide fresh momentum to the development of Pune city," he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the public-private partnership (PPP) model adopted for the metro line.
"This Metro project is special for another reason as well. This Metro line has been built under the PPP model, through the joint efforts of the government and the private sector. This is a model of development whose success will further accelerate the country's progress. Friends, today, every citizen of India, every young man and woman, is working with full dedication to build a Viksit Bharat," he said.

Modi further pointed to the expansion of India's Metro network over the past 10-12 years, saying it had grown from 248 kilometres in 2014 to around 1,200 kilometres at present.
He said, "Today, it has expanded to around 1,200 kilometres. In 2014, Metro services were operational in only five cities. Today, they are running in 26 cities across the country. More than one crore people now travel by Metro every day."
He inaugurated Pune Metro Line 3, also known as the Pink Line, built at a cost of over Rs 8,300 crore. The project represents an important step towards strengthening Pune's urban mobility infrastructure through technological innovation and modern transportation solutions.
Spanning approximately 23 kilometres, the Pink Line connects Maan to District Court Metro station. The corridor will provide Metro connectivity between the Hinjewadi IT hub and Shivajinagar, improving access to one of Pune's major employment centres and facilitating the daily commute of thousands of IT professionals and other commuters.