‘Historic achievement for 21st-century India’: PM Modi inaugurates Rs 35,000 crore development projects in Vadodara

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated, dedicated and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth more than Rs 35,000 crore in Vadodara, including key sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), railway and highway projects.

The event also marked the completion of the 2,800-km Dedicated Freight Corridor, a project Modi described as a “very historic achievement for 21st-century India”.

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“There is also a stream of Gati Shakti in this seven-pronged approach. For a developed India, we need connectivity that is not only seamless but also in tune with the times. Vadodara has a special connection with the Gati Shakti. Today, the final links of the Dedicated Freight Corridor have also been connected from here,” Modi said.

The three newly completed WDFC sections span 326 route kilometres and have been developed at a cost of more than Rs 20,700 crore. The sections are New Sanand (N)-New Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale and New Saphale-New JNPT.

The direct connectivity to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) is expected to enable faster movement of export-import cargo, improve links between industrial centres and ports, lower logistics costs and help decongest Mumbai’s railway network.

Modi also flagged off freight train services from New Sanand (North), New Makarpura, New Umbergaon and New JNPT in Mumbai. He also flagged off a new passenger train service between Tanda Road and Vadodara (Pratapnagar).

The prime minister dedicated the Jobat-Tanda Road new rail line to the nation. The line has been developed as part of the Chhota Udepur-Dhar project and will connect remote and tribal areas of Alirajpur with the national rail network.

Highlighting the scale of the freight corridor project, Modi said its idea was first initiated in 2004.

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“The idea for this freight corridor was initiated in 2004. In 2006, the company was established and work began, but for 14 years, files kept moving from one place to another,” he said.

“Today, the 2,800-km Dedicated Freight Corridor project has been completed. This is a very historic achievement for 21st-century India. The Dedicated Freight Corridor is a witness to how the country’s work culture has changed over the past 12 years,” Modi said.

The prime minister also laid the foundation stone for three railway projects spanning 329 kilometres at a cost of more than Rs 9,700 crore.

These include the third and fourth lines between Vadodara and Ratlam, gauge conversion of the Miyagam Karjan-Choranda-Malsar section and doubling of the Vishwamitri-Dabhoi line.

In the road sector, Modi laid the foundation stone for three National Highway projects costing around Rs 1,780 crore.

The projects include six-laning of the Kamrej-Chalthan section of NH-48; construction of additional structures, including major bridges over the Tapi and Narmada, on the Vadodara-Surat section of NH-48; and grade-separated structures at Abhava, Mindhola and Khajod junctions on NH-53.

The prime minister also laid the foundation stones for and inaugurated various Gujarat government projects worth around Rs 2,600 crore.

Among the projects for which foundation stones were laid are Phase II of the Vadodara Urban Development Authority Ring Road, a 110 MW floating solar project at Kadana Dam and a new office building for the Vadodara Municipal Corporation.

Projects inaugurated include housing developments under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and a water-supply project covering 11 villages in eastern Vadodara.

Addressing the 'NaMo for Viksit Bharat' event, Modi said the projects were part of a broader push to accelerate India's development journey.

“This is a celebration of growth and partnership involving colleagues working across diverse fields; everything is coming together here. I have come among you today to further accelerate the journey towards a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India)...” he said.