PM Modi inaugurates and lays foundation stone of development projects worth more than Rs 4,150 cr in Dwarka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth more than Rs 4,150 crore in Gujarat's Dwarka.

"From several years, I wanted to visit and offer prayers at the submerged city of Dwarka. That wish got fulfilled today, and I am very emotional about it," said the Prime Minister. He offered prayers at Gujarat's famous Lord Krisha temple--Dwarkadish on Sunday morning.

"Today, I experienced those moments which will stay with me forever... I went deep in the sea and did 'Darshan' of the ancient Dwarka city. Archaeologists have written a lot about the Dwarka city hidden underwater," he said.


In our scriptures also, it is said about Dwarka that it was a city with beautiful gates and tall buildings, as tall as the top of the world, he added.

"Lord Krishna himself constructed this city... When I went deep in the sea, I experienced the divinity... I bowed down in front of Dwarkadhish. I took a peacock feather with me and placed it at Lord Krishna's feet," he said.

Earlier today PM Modi inaugurated 'Sudarshan Setu', the country's longest cable-stayed bridge of 2.32 km, on the Arabian sea connecting Beyt Dwarka island to mainland Okha in Gujarat's Devbhumi Dwarka district. Modi began his day by offering prayers at Lord Sri Krishna temple at Beyt Dwarka.

He also inaugurated the four-lane cable-stayed bridge called the 'Sudarshan Setu', which boasts a unique design, featuring a footpath adorned with verses from Srimad Bhagavad Gita and images of Lord Krishna on both sides.

PM Modi calling Sudarshan Setu an engineering marvel said, students of structural engineering should come and study the Sudarshan Setu. It is India's longest cable bridge, he added.

The 2.32 km bridge, including 900 metres of central double span cable-stayed portion and a 2.45 km long approach road, has been constructed at a cost of Rs 979 crore, as per an official release.

The four-lane 27.20 metre wide bridge has 2.50 metre wide footpaths on each side, it said.

The bridge, which was known as 'Signature Bridge', has been renamed as 'Sudarshan Setu' or Sudarshan Bridge.

Beyt Dwarka is an island near Okha port, which is nearly 30 km from Dwarka town, where the famous Dwarkadhish temple of Lord Krishna is situated.

At present, devotees visiting the temple at Beyt Dwarka can travel only during the day by boat, while the construction of the bridge will allow them to travel at all times, officials said.