States should start preparing now as Tier 2, 3 cities become the centre of economic activity: P.M. Modi

prioritised, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, noting that tier two and tier three cities are increasingly serving as the hub of economic activity.

Using video conferencing, the prime minister addressed a gathering of the BJP's Council of Mayors and Deputy Mayors in Gujarat and urged them to take steps to guarantee that small vendors receive training in using the digital payment system.

"States need to start making plans for tier 2 and tier 3 cities right away. Cities in Tiers 2 and 3 are now becoming the hub of the economy. These cities are where our startups are located. In certain places, we should prioritise creating industry clusters. To use the digital payment system, small sellers must receive training. To guarantee this, mayors must take the initiative "added he.

According to Prime Minister Modi, who listed the improvements to urban infrastructure made by his administration, towns are being worked on to become hubs for a holistic way of life.

"India is putting money into its city infrastructure. The country's metro network was less than 250 kilometres long as of 2014. It has now travelled more than 775 kilometres. The construction of a 1,000 kilometre metro route has begun. We try to make our towns epicentres of an all-encompassing lifestyle "said he.

"For a very long time, our nation's residents have trusted the BJP to develop our cities. It is our collective responsibility to consistently sustain and grow it "Modi the PM said .

"The elected public representatives' thoughts should not be limited to elections. With election-focused mindset, we cannot benefit the communities. Many times, the fear of losing in the elections prevents people from making the best option for their cities "said he.

The prime minister further requested that conference attendees refrain from "electioncentric thinking," claiming that it is detrimental to the growth of communities.