On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for a series of development projects in Gujarat valued at approximately ₹35,000 crore. During his address at the ‘NaMo for Viksit Bharat’ program in Vadodara, Modi spotlighted the government’s efforts to boost infrastructure and manufacturing. He criticized the previous Congress-led administration for what he termed as procrastination in executing key infrastructure projects. Modi celebrated the completion of India’s 2,800-km dedicated freight corridors, calling it a pivotal advancement for the nation’s transportation framework.
Modi also addressed detractors of the freight corridor initiative, humorously referring to them as “Naraz Fufa” or “angry uncle.” He emphasized the benefits of the modern freight network, which include reduced travel time, decreased fuel consumption, and lower logistics costs. The network is expected to bolster trade and aid farmers by facilitating the swift transportation of agricultural goods to major markets. The Prime Minister noted the operation of over 430 freight trains each day on the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors, highlighting that journeys previously taking around 30 hours by road now only take 10–12 hours on these dedicated rail lines.
Furthermore, Modi took a political jab at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s youth outreach campaign, cautioning young Indians against what he described as “Jhooth Ki Goonj” or the “echo of lies.” He encouraged the youth to gain expertise in artificial intelligence and pointed out promising opportunities in sectors like renewable and nuclear energy. Modi underscored the significant growth in India’s domestic manufacturing capabilities since 2014, particularly in railway coaches, locomotives, and wagons. He also noted substantial progress in solar manufacturing, mentioning that rooftop solar installations have benefited 55 lakh families, with about 11 lakh of those in Gujarat alone.
Modi highlighted the broad scope of infrastructure development across various sectors, including railways, roads, airports, metros, pipelines, and housing, which he said are generating substantial employment opportunities. He asserted that India is constructing the necessary energy and technology ecosystems to establish itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence and other advanced industries. Through these efforts, Modi suggested that India is on the path to becoming a formidable player on the world stage in both manufacturing and technology innovation.