PM Modi Unveils ₹35,000-Crore Projects in Vadodara, Marks Completion of Western Dedicated Freight Corridor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated and dedicated a series of rail, road, housing, water-supply and urban development projects worth more than ₹35,000 crore in Vadodara, with the completion of key sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) being a major part of the programme.

326-Km WDFC Sections Dedicated

Three sections of the WDFC covering 326 route kilometres, developed at a cost of more than ₹20,700 crore, were dedicated to the nation.

The sections are Sanand (North)-Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale and New Saphale-Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA).

Their commissioning completes the WDFC across its full length and provides direct freight connectivity to JNPA. The corridor is expected to facilitate the movement of export-import cargo, reduce logistics costs and ease congestion 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 Rail Services and Lines Launched

A new passenger train service between Vadodara and Tanda Road was also flagged off.

The Jobat-Tanda Road railway line, developed as part of the Chhota Udepur-Dhar project, was dedicated to the nation. The line is intended to connect remote and tribal areas of Alirajpur with the national railway network.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the freight corridor would facilitate faster movement of agricultural produce, industrial goods and other commodities from Gujarat.

₹9,700-Crore Railway Projects Get Go-Ahead

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stones for three railway projects covering 329 km, with a combined cost of more than ₹9,700 crore.

The projects include:

• Third and fourth railway lines between Vadodara and Ratlam
• Gauge conversion of the Miyagam Karjan-Choranda-Malsar section
• Doubling of the Vishwamitri-Dabhoi section

The projects are aimed at increasing passenger and freight capacity, reducing congestion and improving rail connectivity between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Three Highway Projects Worth ₹1,780 Crore

Three National Highway projects costing around ₹1,780 crore were also included in the programme.

These comprise six-laning of the Kamrej-Chalthan section of NH-48, additional structures including 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.

Urban, Solar and Housing 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 Government Highlights Housing and Water Schemes

Patel said more than 16.53 lakh houses had been provided to beneficiaries in urban and rural areas of Gujarat under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

He also highlighted the expansion of drinking-water coverage through the Nal Se Jal programme.

The Chief Minister said the state would continue working towards the goal of Viksit Gujarat, in line with the broader target of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Vadodara's Infrastructure Role Highlighted

Patel also referred to developments in sectors including space, railways, defence and manufacturing while outlining recent projects associated with Gujarat and Vadodara.

He mentioned Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, the manufacturing facility for C-295 military transport aircraft, Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-I, India's hydrogen-powered passenger train and indigenous naval and defence programmes.

He also said India's defence production had reached around ₹1.78 lakh crore.

The Vadodara programme combined major transport infrastructure projects with initiatives involving housing, drinking water, renewable energy and urban development.