On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the groundwork for a series of development projects in Gujarat, with a total investment of approximately ₹35,000 crore. During the ‘NaMo for Viksit Bharat’ event in Vadodara, Modi emphasized the government’s strong focus on bolstering infrastructure and manufacturing. He took the opportunity to critique the previous Congress-led administration, accusing it of dragging its feet on significant infrastructure initiatives, and celebrated the completion of India’s 2,800-km dedicated freight corridors as a transformative achievement for the nation’s transport system.
Modi addressed critics of the freight corridor initiative, humorously labeling them as “Naraz Fufa” (angry uncle), and defended the project by outlining its benefits. According to him, the modern freight network is set to decrease travel time, fuel usage, and logistics expenses while enhancing trade. Notably, it promises to benefit farmers by expediting the transportation of agricultural products to key markets. He stated that over 430 freight trains currently run each day on the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors, a development that significantly cuts down the transit time for freight that once took about 30 hours by road to just 10–12 hours by train.
In a political jab, Modi also addressed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s initiative aimed at connecting with the youth, cautioning them against what he termed as “Jhooth Ki Goonj” (echo of lies). He urged the younger generation to build their skills in artificial intelligence and pointed out the potential in sectors like renewable and nuclear energy. Modi highlighted that since 2014, India has made substantial progress in the domestic production of railway coaches, locomotives, and wagons, alongside advancements in solar power, noting that rooftop solar installations have reached 55 lakh families, with around 11 lakh of these in Gujarat alone.
Furthermore, Modi underscored the widespread job creation resulting from infrastructure developments across various sectors, including railways, roads, airports, metros, pipelines, and housing. He asserted that India is laying the foundation for an energy and technology ecosystem that will support its ambitions to become a global leader in artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge industries.
