PM Modi Inaugurates ₹35,000 Crore Development Projects in Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth over ₹35,000 crore during the 'NaMo for Viksit Bharat' program in Vadodara, Gujarat. A central highlight of the event was the completion of the 2,800 km Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, which connects Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai with Dadri in Uttar Pradesh. The Prime Minister stated that this modern freight network is a lifeline for India's trade and business, noting that a single double stack container freight train can now transport cargo equivalent to over 250 trucks. He also flagged off freight train services from New Sanand, New Makarpura, New Umbergaon, and New JNPT, as well as a passenger train service between Tanda Road and Vadodara.

During his speech, the Prime Minister criticized the previous Congress led government for a slow pace of development. He claimed that while India has built 50,000 modern rail coaches since 2014, the previous regime failed to build 50,000 toilets in ten years. He further alleged that the Dedicated Freight Corridor project, which began in 2004, saw files shuffle aimlessly until 2014.

Modi also targeted opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. He referred to critics as "Naraz Fufa" (angry uncle), suggesting that such individuals would complain about the impact of the freight corridor on truck drivers. Additionally, he dismissed Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' youth outreach initiative as "Jhooth ki Goonj" (echo of lies), asserting that the youth of India are driven by truth and are excelling in fields such as AI and renewable energy. He noted that 1.1 million families in Gujarat have installed rooftop solar plants, creating numerous employment opportunities.

The event saw high public interest, with all seats booked within an hour of registration opening on the BookMyShow platform.