Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a lively reception from a large gathering in Vadodara on Tuesday as he attended the “NaMo for Viksit Bharat” program. The event brought together thousands of people and focused on a wide-ranging development package designed to strengthen Gujarat’s transportation, urban infrastructure, connectivity, and clean energy capacity.
During his Gujarat visit, Modi unveiled, inaugurated, and initiated several projects with a combined value exceeding $4 billion. The initiatives span railways, national highways, urban development, housing, water supply, and renewable energy, reflecting a broad push to expand infrastructure across the state.
One of the biggest highlights was the completion of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). Three sections covering approximately 326 route kilometers were dedicated to the nation, representing an investment of more than $2.4 billion. The newly commissioned stretches connect Sanand in Gujarat with Makarpura and extend through New Umbergaon and Saphale toward the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority.
The completed freight corridor is expected to improve the movement of goods between industrial hubs and the major port. Faster freight transportation could shorten delivery times, lower logistics expenses, and reduce pressure on Mumbai’s heavily used railway network. Freight services were also flagged off from several locations along the corridor.
Passenger connectivity received attention as well. A new train service linking Vadodara with Tanda Road was launched, while the Jobat-Tanda Road railway line was dedicated to the public. The new line is expected to improve access for communities in remote and tribal areas, particularly in parts of Alirajpur.
The railway expansion program also includes three projects covering 329 kilometers, with a combined estimated cost of more than $1.1 billion. These include additional railway lines between Vadodara and Ratlam, gauge conversion work, and doubling of the Vishwamitri-Dabhoi route.
Road infrastructure is another major component of the development package. Projects worth about $200 million will support highway expansion, additional bridge structures, and grade-separated junctions along key routes. Two new six-lane flyovers at Kandari Chokdi and Luvara Patia were also inaugurated.
State-led initiatives worth roughly $300 million include a new phase of the Vadodara ring road, a 110-megawatt floating solar facility at Kadana Dam, and a new municipal corporation office. Housing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and a water-supply scheme serving 11 villages were also included.
The Vadodara event attracted strong public interest, with available seats reportedly booked within an hour and more than 42,000 people placed on a waiting list. Digital registration and QR-code-based entry were used to manage the large crowd.
After completing his Vadodara engagements, Modi was scheduled to travel to Mumbai to inaugurate the Global Fintech Fest 2026.
