Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated and dedicated development projects worth more than ₹35,000 crore in Vadodara, covering railways, highways, housing, water supply, renewable energy and urban infrastructure. The completion of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) was a major highlight of the programme.
326-Km WDFC Sections Dedicated
Three sections of the WDFC, covering 326 route kilometres and built at a cost of more than ₹20,700 crore, were dedicated to the nation. These include the Sanand (North)-Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale and New Saphale-Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) sections.With these sections becoming operational, the entire WDFC is now complete, providing direct freight connectivity to JNPA. The corridor is expected to speed up the movement of export-import goods, reduce logistics costs and ease pressure on Mumbai’s railway network.Modi also flagged off freight train services from New Sanand (North), New Makarpura, New Umbergaon and New JNPT in Mumbai.
New Railway Line and Train Service
A new passenger train service between Vadodara and Tanda Road was also flagged off.The Jobat-Tanda Road railway line, developed under the Chhota Udepur-Dhar project, was dedicated to the nation. The line will improve railway connectivity to remote and tribal areas of Alirajpur.Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the freight corridor would help move agricultural produce, industrial goods and other commodities faster from Gujarat.
₹9,700-Crore Railway Projects
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stones for three railway projects covering 329 km at a combined cost of more than ₹9,700 crore.The projects are aimed at increasing passenger and freight capacity, reducing congestion and improving rail connectivity between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Highway Projects Worth ₹1,780 Crore
Three National Highway projects worth around ₹1,780 crore were also included in the programme.These include six-laning of the Kamrej-Chalthan section of NH-48, construction of additional structures and 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.Six-lane flyovers at Kandari Chokdi and Luvara Patia were also inaugurated.
Housing, Water and Solar Projects
State government projects worth around ₹2,600 crore were also launched or inaugurated.These include Phase II of the Vadodara Urban Development Authority Ring Road, a 110 MW floating solar project at Kadana Dam and a new Vadodara Municipal Corporation office.Housing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and a water-supply project covering 11 villages in eastern Vadodara were also inaugurated.
Gujarat Highlights Housing and Water Schemes
Chief Minister Patel said more than 16.53 lakh houses had been provided to beneficiaries across urban and rural Gujarat under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.He also highlighted the expansion of drinking-water coverage under the Nal Se Jal programme and said the state would continue working towards the goal of Viksit Gujarat, in line with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Vadodara’s Growing Infrastructure Role
Patel also highlighted Gujarat and Vadodara’s growing role in sectors such as railways, defence, space and manufacturing.He referred to projects including Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, the C-295 military transport aircraft manufacturing facility, Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-I programme, India’s hydrogen-powered passenger train and various indigenous defence and naval projects.He said India’s defence production had reached around ₹1.78 lakh crore.The Vadodara programme brought together major transport and infrastructure projects along with initiatives in housing, drinking water, renewable energy and urban development.