Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth over ₹35,000 crore in Vadodara, Gujarat, as part of the government's infrastructure development push. The centerpiece was the completion of the 2800-kilometer Dedicated Freight Corridor, which represents a significant transformation in India's logistics infrastructure.
The Dedicated Freight Corridor enables the operation of over 430 cargo trains daily, dramatically reducing transit times from 30 hours to just 10-12 hours for truck journeys. This infrastructure improvement covers 100 kilometers in less than half the previous time, resulting in fuel savings, reduced freight charges, and environmental benefits. The project particularly benefits agricultural transport, allowing farmers from Eastern and Western India to swiftly transport perishable goods like seasonal flowers, vegetables, and fruits to larger markets.
A notable operational milestone highlighted was the successful deployment of a double-stack container freight train from JNPT Port to Vadodara, which transported cargo equivalent to more than 250 trucks. The Prime Minister also emphasized the macroeconomic impact of infrastructure development, citing the railway budget of over ₹2.75 lakh crore as generating millions of employment opportunities.
On manufacturing achievements, the government reported production of 50,000 modern railway coaches and nearly 2.5 lakh wagons since 2014. In renewable energy, domestic production of solar PV modules has built 200 GW capacity, reducing import costs significantly. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has benefited 55 lakh families nationwide, including 11 lakh in Gujarat, enabling them to become electricity producers.
The Prime Minister announced two significant youth-focused initiatives: free coaching for competitive exams to alleviate financial strain on poor and middle-class households, and a massive national campaign to cultivate AI-proficient youth capable of driving innovations in agriculture, healthcare, and robotics. These initiatives are part of the government's focus on skill development and preparing the younger generation for emerging technologies.
The speech also highlighted Vadodara's industrial evolution over 150 years from textiles to petrochemicals, and its recent achievement as the birthplace of India's first domestically manufactured military transport aircraft, the C-295.