Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Gujarat on February 24-25 during which he will lay the foundation stone of a slew of development projects worth over Rs 52,250 crore. These projects will encompass sectors including energy, natural gas, health, road, rail, petroleum, and tourism, among others. The highlight of his two-day visit will be the inauguration of 'Sudarshan Setu' which will connect Okha mainland and Beyt Dwarka and is touted to become the country's longest cable-stayed bridge. The 2.32 km-long bridge was built at a cost of around Rs. 980 crore and is expected to boost tourism prospects in Dwarka.
According to the official statement from the prime minister's office (PMO), the bridge has a unique design and features a footpath bedecked with Bhagavad Gita verses and images of Lord Krishna on both sides. The solar panels installed on the upper portions of the footpath will generate one megawatt of electricity. Earlier pilgrims were dependent on boats to reach Beyt Dwarka. However, after its construction, the bridge will significantly reduce the time of devotees and ease their transportation.
While in Dwarka, the prime minister will also dedicate a pipeline project at Vadinar. Under this project, the existing offshore line will be replaced and the entire system (the Pipeline End Manifold and interconnecting loop line) will be relocated to a new location.
PM Modi will also dedicate to the nation the Rajkot-Okha, Rajkot-Jetalsar-Somnath, and Jetalsar-Wansjaliya Rail Electrification projects.
The foundation stone of a Flue Gas Desulphurisation system installation at Sikka Thermal Power Station and Regional Science Centre at Jamnagar and the widening of the Dhoraji-Jamkandorna-Kalavad section of NH-927D will also be laid by PM Modi.
PM Modi in Rajkot
PM Modi will dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of development projects worth over Rs. 48,100 crore at a public function in Rajkot. Additionally, he will lay the foundation stone of more than 200 healthcare infrastructure projects worth over Rs 11,500 crore across 23 states/UTs.
The prime minister will inaugurate five All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot (Gujarat), Kalyani (West Bengal), Bathinda (Punjab), Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), and Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh).
He will also inaugurate a medical college of JIPMER at Karaikal, Puducherry, and a 300-bed satellite centre of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical and Educational Research in Punjab's Sangrur. Apart from this, PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone of various other health projects across the nation, including a 100 bedded Satellite Centre of PGIMER at Ferozpur, Punjab, nursing Colleges at Koderma and Dumka in Jharkhand, a new Medical College building in RML Hospital, Delhi, and Critical Care Block in RIMS, Imphal.
PM Modi will also inaugurate the National Institute of Naturopathy named ‘Nisarg Gram’ at Pune. The institute will consist of a Naturopathy Medical College in addition to a 250-bed hospital with a Multi-disciplinary Research and Extension Centre.
The statement also said that the prime minister will lay the foundation stone of various renewable energy projects including the Khavda Solar Power Project, the 300 MW Bhujj-II solar power project, the 200 MW Dayapur-II wind energy project, and a grid-connected 600 MW solar PV power project, among others.