Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth approximately ₹35,000 crore in Gujarat on Tuesday. Speaking at the ‘NaMo for Viksit Bharat’ event in Vadodara, he emphasized the government’s focus on enhancing infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities. Modi also criticized the previous Congress-led administration for delays in major infrastructure projects, highlighting the completion of India’s 2,800-km dedicated freight corridors as a significant achievement for the country’s transport network.
Modi addressed critics of the freight corridor project, humorously referring to them as “Naraz Fufa” (angry uncle). He asserted that this modern freight network would cut travel time, reduce fuel consumption, and lower logistics costs, thereby strengthening trade and benefiting farmers by facilitating faster transportation of agricultural produce to key markets. The Prime Minister noted that more than 430 freight trains now operate daily on the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors, with journeys that previously took about 30 hours by road now being completed in 10–12 hours via the dedicated rail network.
In his speech, Modi also took a political jab at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s youth outreach initiative, cautioning young people against what he termed as “Jhooth Ki Goonj” (echo of lies). He encouraged India’s youth to gain expertise in artificial intelligence and highlighted the potential for growth in sectors such as renewable and nuclear energy. Modi pointed out that since 2014, India has significantly expanded its domestic manufacturing of railway coaches, locomotives, and wagons, alongside growth in solar energy production.
The Prime Minister highlighted that rooftop solar installations have reached 55 lakh families, with around 11 lakh of those being in Gujarat. He further pointed out that development in infrastructure across railways, roads, airports, metros, pipelines, and housing is generating substantial employment opportunities. According to Modi, India is also building the necessary energy and technology ecosystem to become a global leader in artificial intelligence and other advanced industries.