PM Modi Inaugurates Rs 35,000 Crore Projects in Vadodara

Key facts

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated, dedicated and laid 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 marked the completion of the 2,800-km Dedicated Freight Corridor, which Modi described as a very historic achievement for 21st-century India.
• The three newly completed WDFC sections span 326 route kilometres and were developed at a cost of more than Rs 20,700 crore.
• The completed WDFC sections are New Sanand (N)-New Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale and New Saphale-New JNPT.
• 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 flagged off freight train services from New Sanand (North), New Makarpura, New Umbergaon and New JNPT in Mumbai.
• A new passenger train service between Tanda Road and Vadodara (Pratapnagar) was flagged off.
• The Jobat-Tanda Road new rail line, developed as part of the Chhota Udepur-Dhar project, was dedicated to the nation and will connect remote and tribal areas of Alirajpur with the national rail network.
• Modi said the idea for the freight corridor was initiated in 2004, the company was established in 2006, but work remained stalled in files for 14 years.
• Modi laid the foundation stone for three railway projects spanning 329 kilometres at a cost of more than Rs 9,700 crore.
• The railway projects 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.
• Modi laid the foundation stone for three National Highway projects costing around Rs 1,780 crore.
• The highway projects include six-laning of the Kamrej-Chalthan section of NH-48, 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.
• Foundation stones were laid for and various Gujarat government projects worth around Rs 2,600 crore were inaugurated.
• Gujarat projects include 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.
• Modi addressed the 'NaMo for Viksit Bharat' event, saying the projects were part of a broader push to accelerate India's development journey towards a Viksit Bharat.