Vav-Tharad (Gujarat), March 31 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized on Tuesday that India's commitment to enhancing renewable energy, transportation, and public infrastructure is being effectively implemented.

While inaugurating and laying the groundwork for development initiatives worth Rs 19,806.9 crore in the Vav-Tharad district of Gujarat, the Prime Minister expressed that better road and rail connectivity would stimulate business and attract investment.

“Strengthened road and rail links lead to increased business opportunities and new investments,” he remarked, highlighting that these projects are integral to Gujarat's development.

PM Modi shared his personal connection to the region, reminiscing about his memories of its villages. “Every village here holds a part of my journey. Today, I reconnect with familiar faces and your profound love. You have nurtured me, and I am here to repay that through development initiatives,” he stated.

He acknowledged the contributions of young party activists in executing local programs.

Reflecting on his earlier roles, he noted that 25 years ago, the citizens of Banaskantha and Vav-Tharad had entrusted him with leadership responsibilities.

During his tenure as Gujarat's Chief Minister, he committed to advancing the state with a mission-oriented approach, affirming, “I worked diligently to propel Gujarat forward, and I'm pleased to see the double-engine government continue this journey since 2014.”

The Prime Minister highlighted the success of government initiatives, mentioning that approximately 40,000 families have now benefitted from pucca houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) scheme.

“For these families, it signifies their identity and a fresh start for their aspirations,” he stated, attributing this progress to public support.

PM Modi addressed the water and agricultural hurdles faced in the region, recalling a time when it was plagued by drought and long journeys for water access.

He credited programs like Sujalam Sufalam for enhancing water management and improving farmers' incomes, asserting that the advantages would extend to Vav-Tharad, Patan, Mehsana, and Banaskantha.

Officials noted that the inaugurated and initiated projects span diverse sectors. In transportation, the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway, a controlled-access highway costing over Rs 5,100 crore, was launched to bolster regional connectivity and foster growth in the Dholera Special Investment Region.

Additionally, initiatives for highway bypasses and new flyovers were introduced to alleviate traffic congestion.

Energy infrastructure projects included the Khavda Pooling Station-2 and its transmission lines, designed to evacuate about 4.5 GW of renewable energy, thereby enhancing Gujarat's green power capability.

Railway improvements such as the Kanalus-Jamnagar doubling project, Gandhidham-Adipur quadrupling, and the Himmatnagar-Khedbrahma gauge conversion were also inaugurated, including the launch of the Khedbrahma-Himmatnagar-Asarwa train service.

Urban development projects worth around Rs 5,300 crore were part of the inauguration, focusing on infrastructure enhancements, drainage systems, and initiatives in cities like Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

Healthcare advancements included new 'Ren Basera' night shelters at civil hospitals in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

Tourism initiatives, such as light and sound shows at historical sites like Rani ki Vav and Sharmishtha Lake, were also included in the program.

Water infrastructure enhancements dedicated to the nation encompassed major pipelines in Banaskantha and Patan districts, along with improvements to water supply systems for urban and rural communities.

Foundations for the expansion of Sabarmati Riverfront and new educational hostel facilities were also laid.

Modi highlighted that Gujarat's advancements in renewable energy trace back to efforts initiated in 2010, predicting that the state could emerge as one of the globe's largest renewable energy hubs.

“The day is approaching when Gujarat will be recognized as the foremost hub for renewable energy,” he remarked.

The Prime Minister also pointed out the increasing scale of urban development budgets in the state, noting that the budget for municipal corporations has grown significantly, with the overall state budget for the current year surpassing Rs four lakh crore.

He concluded his remarks by emphasizing that sustained confidence in governance would drive ongoing development, asserting that such efforts would persist from “panchayat to Parliament.”