Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday became the first passenger of the Kanpur metro service as he inaugurated the completed section of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project.

He was accompanied by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

According to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), improving urban mobility has been one of the key focus areas of PM Modi. The completed 9 km long section of Kanpur Metro Rail Project stretches from IIT Kanpur to Moti Jheel.

The entire length of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project is 32 km and is being built at a cost of over Rs 11,000 crore. Kanpur Metro is going to be the fastest built metro project in the country.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath started the construction work of the Kanpur metro project on November 15, 2019, and the trial run took place on the 9 km IIT to Motijheel Priority Corridor on November 10, 2021, in less than two years.

While addressing the 54th convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, PM Modi said that the country has emerged as the second biggest startup hub in the world.

PM Modi said that IIT Kanpur's contribution in developing 5G technology has been recognised globally.

"In this 75th year of independence, we have over 75 unicorns, over 50,000 start-ups. Of these, 10,000 have come only in the last 6 months. India has emerged to be the second biggest startup hub in the world, and this feat has been achieved majorly with the help of students from IITs," PM Modi said.

During the ceremony, the prime minister launched blockchain-based digital degrees. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and the Chief Minister of the state Yogi Adityanath were also present there as they attended the function as guests of honour.

The students were issued digital degrees through an in-house blockchain-driven technology developed at the institute under the National Blockchain Project. These digital degrees can be verified globally and are unforgeable.

"This century is completely technology-driven. Students have invested the most important years of their lives in learning about technology. And this will make it impossible for any other force to stop you from excelling," said the Prime Minister.

Image credit: ANI