Vadodara: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid foundation stones for development projects worth over ₹35,000 crore in Vadodara, Gujarat, highlighting infrastructure, manufacturing, skilling and artificial intelligence as key drivers of India’s growth.
Addressing a gathering at the Maharaja Sayajirao University ground, Modi said the projects would improve connectivity, speed up the movement of people and goods and create new employment opportunities.
Modi highlighted the completion of the 2,800-km Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), calling it a “lifeline” for a rapidly developing India. The Eastern and Western DFCs have separated freight movement from passenger services, enabling more than 430 cargo trains to operate daily.
He said the network has significantly reduced transportation time, with cargo journeys that earlier took around 30 hours now taking 10-12 hours. Faster logistics, he added, would reduce fuel consumption and freight costs while benefiting farmers by helping perishable produce reach markets quickly.
A double-stack container train from JNPT port to Vadodara, carrying cargo equivalent to more than 250 trucks, was also highlighted.
The Prime Minister showcased Vadodara’s industrial growth, including its role in manufacturing the C-295 military transport aircraft. He said India has produced around 50,000 modern railway coaches and nearly 2.5 lakh wagons since 2014.
Modi also highlighted the expansion of domestic solar manufacturing and renewable energy, saying India was moving towards greater self-reliance.
Modi announced an initiative to provide free coaching for competitive examinations, aimed at reducing the financial burden on poor and middle-class families.
He also outlined plans for a national campaign to make young Indians proficient in artificial intelligence, with applications in agriculture, healthcare, robotics and manufacturing.
Calling skills and continuous upgradation essential for the future workforce, Modi urged the country to harness its demographic dividend and remain focused on the goal of building a developed India by 2047.