On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the groundwork for development projects in Gujarat valued at approximately ₹35,000 crore, underscoring the government’s commitment to boosting infrastructure and manufacturing. During the ‘NaMo for Viksit Bharat’ event in Vadodara, Modi criticized the previous Congress-led administration for what he claimed were delays in executing significant infrastructure initiatives. He highlighted the completion of India’s 2,800-km dedicated freight corridors as a pivotal achievement for the nation’s transportation network.
Modi addressed skeptics of the freight corridor project, referring to them as “Naraz Fufa” (angry uncle), and defended the initiative by emphasizing its potential to cut travel time, decrease fuel consumption, and lower logistics costs. He argued that the modern freight system would enhance trade and provide advantages to farmers by facilitating quicker transportation of agricultural products to key markets. The Prime Minister noted that over 430 freight trains are now operational daily on the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors, significantly reducing journeys that previously took around 30 hours by road to just 10–12 hours via the dedicated rail network.
In a political jab, Modi addressed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s efforts to engage with the youth and cautioned young people against what he described as the “Jhooth Ki Goonj” (echo of lies). He encouraged India’s youth to gain expertise in artificial intelligence and pointed out opportunities in burgeoning sectors like renewable and nuclear energy. Modi also shared that since 2014, India has significantly increased domestic production of railway coaches, locomotives, and wagons.
The Prime Minister further highlighted advancements in solar energy, revealing that rooftop solar installations have now reached 55 lakh families, with about 11 lakh households in Gujarat alone benefiting from this green technology. He emphasized that infrastructure development in areas like railways, roads, airports, metros, pipelines, and housing is generating substantial employment opportunities. Modi asserted that India is laying the groundwork to become a global leader in artificial intelligence and other advanced industries by building a robust energy and technology ecosystem.