Surat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated, dedicated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth around ₹18,800 crore in Gujarat’s Surat district, while using the occasion to launch a sharp attack on opposition parties, accusing them of practising divisive politics and obstructing the country’s development agenda. The projects span road infrastructure, healthcare, power transmission and industrial development sectors.
Addressing a large public gathering in Surat, the Prime Minister said Gujarat continues to serve as a model of development and economic growth. He asserted that while his government is focused on building infrastructure and creating opportunities, opposition parties remain engaged in political opportunism and vote bank politics. He urged people to support politics centred on development and good governance.
Among the key projects inaugurated by Modi were Packages VI and VII of the Vadodara Mumbai Expressway, which are expected to strengthen connectivity between Gujarat and Maharashtra and improve logistics efficiency in one of India’s most important industrial corridors. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the four laning of critical stretches of National Highway 56, aimed at improving connectivity in tribal regions and enhancing access to the Statue of Unity.
In the healthcare sector, Modi inaugurated a 220 bedded Employees’ State Insurance Corporation hospital in Surat. The facility has been equipped with modern healthcare infrastructure, including emergency and trauma care services, specialised treatment facilities and a central laboratory. The government expects the hospital to significantly improve access to quality healthcare for workers and their families in the region.
The Prime Minister also launched several power and industrial infrastructure projects. These include transmission network expansion works designed to enhance power evacuation capacity and strengthen the inter state transmission system. In addition, projects related to industrial utilities, effluent treatment facilities and infrastructure development at industrial parks in Gujarat were also inaugurated.
Officials said the projects are expected to boost industrial growth, improve transportation networks, generate employment opportunities and enhance public services across South Gujarat. The investment package is being viewed as one of the largest development initiatives announced for the region in recent years.
The Prime Minister’s Gujarat visit also included a review of industrial operations and infrastructure projects in Hazira before he proceeded to Daman later in the evening. The visit formed part of a broader programme involving development projects worth more than ₹22,000 crore across Gujarat, Daman and Lakshadweep.