Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday dedicated and laid the foundation stone for a series of development projects worth over ₹5,400 crore in Gujarat. The initiatives span railways, roads, power, housing, and urban infrastructure.
A key highlight was the dedication of railway projects valued at more than ₹1,400 crore. These include the doubling of the 65-km Mahesana–Palanpur rail line (₹530 crore), the gauge conversion of the 37-km Kalol–Kadi–Katosan Road line, and the 40-km Bechraji–Ranuj rail line (₹860 crore). Officials said the works will improve passenger convenience, enhance freight movement, reduce congestion, and strengthen economic linkages in north Gujarat.
The Prime Minister also flagged off a passenger train between Katosan Road and Sabarmati, aimed at improving access to religious destinations and local markets. In addition, he launched a car-loaded freight service from Bechraji to boost last-mile connectivity to industrial hubs and create new employment opportunities through stronger logistics networks.
Continuing his focus on infrastructure, Modi inaugurated the widening of the Viramgam–Khudad–Rampura road and laid the foundation stone for several transport projects. These include six-lane vehicle underpasses on the Ahmedabad–Mehsana–Palanpur road and a railway overbridge on the Ahmedabad–Viramgam route. Officials noted that the projects will reduce traffic bottlenecks and support industrial growth and regional trade.
In the power sector, Modi unveiled electricity distribution projects worth over ₹1,000 crore in Ahmedabad, Mehsana, and Gandhinagar under the Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (UGVCL). Implemented as part of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, the projects aim to reduce transmission losses, minimise outages during adverse weather, and upgrade safety standards for transformers and consumers. The modernisation drive is expected to improve the efficiency and reliability of Gujarat’s electricity network.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated an in-situ slum rehabilitation project under PMAY (Urban) at Ramapir No Tekro in Ahmedabad’s Sector-3, providing better housing facilities for urban poor families.
He further laid the foundation stone for the widening of the Sardar Patel Ring Road to ease congestion around Ahmedabad, along with other urban infrastructure projects to strengthen water supply and sewerage systems.
As part of governance reforms, Modi launched projects to enhance state administration and public service delivery. These include a new Stamps and Registration building in Ahmedabad West for streamlined citizen services, and a state-level Data Storage Centre in Gandhinagar to enable secure data management and strengthen Gujarat’s digital governance capacity.
The Prime Minister, who arrived in Gujarat for a two-day visit, was greeted by large crowds during a roadshow in Ahmedabad soon after landing at the city airport. Thousands of people lined the streets, waving flags and chanting slogans as the “son of the soil” made his way through the city. He is also scheduled to address a public gathering in Nikol.
–IANS