New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday dedicated various projects worth more than Rs 3,400 crores in Surat after he arrived in his home state for a two-day visit.
"It is my privilege to lay the foundation stone for infrastructure, sports, and spiritual destinations in Gujarat during ongoing celebrations of Navratri... Surat is a great example of 'Jan Bhagidari' (people's participation) and unity. People from across India live in Surat, it's a mini-India," PM Modi said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the projects inaugurated by PM Modi in Surat include works for water supply, drainage projects, DREAM City, Biodiversity Park, and other development works such as public infrastructure, heritage restoration, city bus/BRTS infrastructure, electric vehicle infrastructure as well as joint development works by the central and state governments.
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Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said: "In the early decades of this century, when we used to discuss the 3P model i.e. Public, Private, and Partnership, I used to give the 4P example of Surat i.e. People, Public, Private and Partnership. This model makes Surat special."
He inaugurated Phase-I of road infrastructure works and the main entrance of Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City.
"The road connecting Surat to the airport reflects the city's culture, prosperity, and modernity... we got tired of telling the then Delhi govt why Surat needed an airport and what the power of this city is. Today, so many flights depart from here," PM Modi said.
DREAM city project will help Surat to emerge as the safest, most convenient diamond trading hub: PM Modi
Talking about the 'Dream City' project, he emphasised: "When the 'Dream City' project is completed, Surat is going to develop into one of the safest and most convenient diamond trading hubs in the world. The government has given approval to the power loom mega cluster which will lessen the problems of the power loom workers. It will also solve the pollution problems."
According to the PMO, the DREAM City project has been launched "with the vision to meet the growing demand for commercial and residential space to complement the rapid growth of diamond trading business in Surat". Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for Phase II of the project.
The former Gujarat chief minister also highlighted the BJP government's work: "In last two decades, we built around 80,000 homes for poor in Surat, uplifting their standard of living. Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, about 4 crore poor patients got free medical treatment in the country, of which over 32 lakh patients are from Gujarat and 1.25 lakh from Surat."
In Surat, PM Modi laid the foundation stone of Biodiversity Park, which is being built in an area of over 87 hectares from Dr Hedgewar Bridge to Bhimrad-Bamrolli Bridge.
He also inaugurated Khoj Museum at Science Centre in Surat. Built for children, the Museum will have interactive displays, inquiry-based activities, and inquisitiveness-based explorations, the PMO mentioned.
After his event in Surat, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 5200 crore in Bhavnagar.
He will inaugurate the 36th National Games at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad later in the day.