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The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on February 18, 2018 attended the Ground Breaking Ceremony of Navi Mumbai International Airport. At a function in Navi Mumbai, he also dedicated the fourth container terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister noted that he had come to Maharashtra, a day before the Jayanti of the great Shivaji Maharaj.
The Prime Minister said globalization is a reality of our times and to keep pace with globalisation, we need top quality infrastructure. He said the Sagarmala project is ushering not only development of ports but also port-led development. The Prime Minister said that the Government of India is devoting significant efforts towards the development of waterways.
The Prime Minister said that the Navi Mumbai airport project has been pending for years. He said delayed projects cause many problems, and the PRAGATI initiative had been initiated, to give priority to completion of projects.
He said India’s aviation sector is growing tremendously, and there is a sharp increase in the number of people flying. This makes quality infrastructure in the aviation sector of prime importance, he added. The Prime Minister said that the Union Government has brought an aviation policy that is transforming the sector. He added that a strong aviation sector also gives more economic opportunities. Better connectivity leads to more tourists coming to India, he said.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence on the Kalina campus of the university in Mumbai. The Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence is the first centre in the country to focus on research in artificial intelligence and is supported by the state government. The main goal of the centre is to integrate artificial intelligence in the field of social development.
Speaking on the occasion Prime Minister said “This institute is a prime example of how the public sector and the private sector, can combine with good intention, to build a world-class institute, aimed at benefiting the poor”.
He added “With the arrival of Artificial Intelligence, Bots and Robots there is no doubt that our productivity will further go up. But, there are also rising fears of human redundancy because there is a competition between the mind and the machine. Such fears are neither un-founded nor new.
At every stage of technological evolution, we have faced such doubts and questions. This leads to two views of the future. First brings hopes and aspirations and second brings fears of disruption. Technology opens entirely new spheres and sectors for growth. It also opens up an entirely new paradigm of opportunities. With each wave of new technology, many new opportunities arise”.