Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development projects valued at approximately ₹35,000 crore in Gujarat on Tuesday, emphasizing the government’s commitment to advancing infrastructure and manufacturing. Addressing the audience at the ‘NaMo for Viksit Bharat’ event in Vadodara, Modi criticized the previous Congress-led administration for delays in executing significant infrastructure initiatives. He highlighted the completion of India’s 2,800-km dedicated freight corridors as a substantial achievement for the nation’s transport infrastructure.
During his speech, Modi addressed critics of the freight corridor project, referring to them as “Naraz Fufa” or “angry uncle,” and underscored the benefits of the modern freight network. He stated that this development would minimize travel time, lower fuel consumption, and cut logistics costs, thereby enhancing trade and providing advantages to farmers by facilitating faster delivery of agricultural goods to key markets. The Prime Minister noted that more than 430 freight trains currently run daily on the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors, reducing journey times from about 30 hours by road to just 10-12 hours via the dedicated rail system.
In a political jab at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s efforts to connect with young people, Modi cautioned the youth against what he termed “Jhooth Ki Goonj,” or the “echo of lies.” He encouraged the younger generation to focus on developing skills in artificial intelligence and pointed to emerging opportunities in sectors such as renewable and nuclear energy. Modi highlighted the significant expansion in domestic production of railway coaches, locomotives, and wagons since 2014 and noted the growth in solar manufacturing, mentioning that rooftop solar installations had reached 5.5 million families, including about 1.1 million households in Gujarat.
Furthermore, Modi emphasized that infrastructure development across various sectors, including railways, roads, airports, metros, pipelines, and housing, is generating substantial employment opportunities. He stated that India is working to establish the energy and technology ecosystems needed to become a global leader in artificial intelligence and other advanced industries.