Bharat Mata ki Jai.

Bharat Mata ki Jai.

Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat ji, the popular Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Bhai Patel, many distinguished leaders from other states who have joined us online - Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma ji, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ji, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde ji, Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar ji, other ministers, MPs, MLAs, and the lakhs of citizens gathered there. On stage here, my colleagues from the Union Cabinet Ashwini Vaishnaw, Deputy CM and young leader Harsh Sanghvi, ministers of the Gujarat government, other public representatives present, and my dear brothers and sisters of Gujarat.

And especially, because this Maharaja Sayajirao University ground of Vadodara is hosting companions from different fields together, this festival of development is happening here all at once.

Friends,

Today I have come among you to give more speed to the journey of a developed India. Just a short while ago, projects worth thousands of crores of rupees connected to the country’s development were inaugurated and foundation stones laid here. I extend heartfelt congratulations to the people of the nation. On this festival of development, the way you all have carried out a cleanliness and welcome campaign across Vadodara city with a spirit of service, I heartily congratulate every citizen of Vadodara and appreciate them. And the color you have shown - yesterday I was watching a video, my chest swelled with pride. Wow! Is this my Vadodara? And now preparations for Ganeshotsav, later Navratri. During Ganeshotsav and Navratri, the whole of Gujarat’s attention is on Vadodara. And today I saw, for the past week, every family has created an atmosphere of cleanliness. I feel that this time when Lord Ganesh arrives, all blessings will shower upon Vadodara.

Friends,

This year from the Red Fort I called for the Saptdharas (Seven Streams) of resolve for a developed India. One of these streams is Gati Shakti. For a developed India we need connectivity that is smooth and also fast according to the times. Vadodara is the city of Gati Shakti University. Today, the last links of the Dedicated Freight Corridor have also been joined from here. Today, the project of more than 2,800 kilometers of Dedicated Freight Corridor has been completed. This is a very historic achievement for 21st‑century India.

Friends,

This Dedicated Freight Corridor is proof of how the work culture of the country has changed in the past 12 years. The idea of this corridor began in 2004. That means, I see all the youth here - when this idea began, many of you had not even been born. In 2006, a special company was created to carry out this work, and then until 2014, the files just kept moving from here to there. Files were traveling on tables, and unfortunately, even those files did not get a dedicated corridor. Files were stuck, hanging, wandering. And in 2014, the people of Vadodara, Gujarat, and the nation sent me from Gujarat to Delhi. The earlier government remained until 2014. You sent me, and they departed. The truth was that in seven–eight years - my young friends, listen carefully and remember - in seven–eight years not even one kilometer of the freight corridor was completed. If the country had continued at their pace, perhaps even after three–four generations it would not have been done. This was the condition they had left of a project meant to transform India’s logistics ecosystem.

Friends,

After 2014, the education and lessons you had given me here, what this land had taught me, the lessons I carried with me to Delhi - as soon as we reached there, we began to give speed to this project. Today, the 2,800‑kilometer corridor has been completed. And today the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors are becoming the main foundation of the country’s trade and commerce.

Friends,

The Dedicated Freight Corridor is the lifeline of rapidly developing India. It has transformed India’s transportation sector. Earlier, passenger trains ran on the same tracks as freight trains. That meant both travel and transport were slow. But the Dedicated Freight Corridor has changed this situation. Today, on the Eastern and Western freight corridors, more than 430 freight trains run every day - 430 freight trains daily. Earlier, a freight train took six and a half hours to cover 100 kilometers. Now the same freight train covers 100 kilometers in less than half that time. Where sending goods by truck normally took 30 hours, on the Dedicated Freight Corridor the same distance is completed in 10–12 hours. That means, with freight trains running on this corridor, fuel is saved compared to trucks and trains, freight costs are reduced, time is saved, and the environment benefits. That means, investment was made on one track, and the benefits have been many.

Friends,

Through this freight corridor, the produce of farmers from eastern and western India is now reaching big markets more quickly. Many varieties of flowers, vegetables, fruits - items that spoil quickly depending on the season - now have a way to reach mandis and consumers at the right time. This has greatly benefited farmers.

Friends,

This freight corridor is remarkable for another reason. Recently, from JNPT Mumbai port to Vadodara, a double‑stack container freight train was operated. That means one container was placed on top of another, and the train ran. With this train, in one trip, goods equal to more than 250 trucks were transported from Mumbai to Vadodara - 250 trucks. Now, the “angry uncle” types will shout, “What will happen to the truck owners? Where will the trucks go? Those who bought trucks, what will happen to them?” So they have found new work. But in reality, now large quantities of goods can move quickly from one corner of the country to another.

Friends,

Along with the freight corridor, railways are now reaching places where they had not reached for decades. In Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra - the tribal areas here are also being connected to rail through this project. In earlier governments, in the budget, one or two trains would be announced, and they would beat drums about it for a whole year. Whereas today, throughout the year, one new train after another is being launched. Even in today’s program, several new trains have started. The new train will bring great convenience to the people of Vadodara, Chhota Udaipur, and Alirajpur.

Friends,

Roads, railways, metros, airports, gas pipelines, homes for the poor - when these things are built for crores of people in the country, life becomes easier, and at the same time, millions of employment opportunities are created for workers, from small to large. Take railways alone - this year’s rail budget has been more than 2.75 lakh crore rupees, which is many times higher compared to 12 years ago. That means the expenditure on railway modernization is creating thousands upon thousands of new jobs. And these jobs are created during construction itself. Once roads, railways, pipelines, ports, airports are built, then new industries start coming up around them, new businesses arrive, and these create new jobs.

Friends,

I have placed before the country the vision of Saptdharas (seven streams) of resolve for a developed India. One of these streams is manufacturing. And Vadodara city knows and understands this strength very well. How education, skill, and industry collaborate - Vadodara has reflected this for nearly 150 years. Decades ago, the journey here began with textiles and tiles manufacturing, which later advanced with oil and petrochemicals. In the past two–two and a half decades, Vadodara has become a major hub of MSMEs. And I remember, when I had just become Chief Minister, Vadodara always had a special claim on me. Every week some delegation would come, saying, “Do something for manufacturing in Vadodara.” Because when you came here, you would see Jyoti, LMB, GSFC - that was all, nothing else was visible. Today, how much has changed! Now this city is also known for the country’s first Made in India military transport aircraft. The C‑295 aircraft’s first flight has already been seen in the skies here. I heartily congratulate the people of Vadodara for attaining this pride.

Friends,

When we talk about the country’s manufacturing, I want to share another figure. In the past decade, India has become a major manufacturer of rail coaches, metro coaches, and rail engines. Since 2014, India has manufactured nearly 50,000 modern railway coaches. Listen to this figure - since 2014, India has made 50,000 modern coaches. The earlier government could not even build 50,000 toilets in 10 years. We have made 50,000 modern coaches, and nearly 250,000 wagons for freight trains have been added to Indian Railways.

Friends,

Now India is writing a new saga of manufacturing - from chip to ship. That means the parts are ours and the products are ours; a complete chain of self‑reliance will be built within India itself. We are seeing this in the case of solar power. For example, the floating solar plant project at Kadana Dam. A few years ago, setting up solar projects in the country was very expensive, because PV modules and all types of hardware had to be imported. But in recent years we have started manufacturing PV modules in India itself. Today we have developed a capacity of more than 200 gigawatts. And because of such self‑reliance, the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme is expanding. So far, 5.5 million families in the country have installed solar plants on their rooftops. Among them, 1.1 million families are from Gujarat. So many families here have become electricity producers, and because of this, from production to installation and service, countless youths have got employment, and many new vendors have emerged.

Friends,

Those who spread the “echo of lies” can be found at every crossroads, but India’s youth walk with the roar of truth, move with the roar of truth, and live for the roar of truth. Our young companions are seeing how today the government is working with focus in every sector - solar, wind, hydro, nuclear.

Friends,

In the coming era, every modern sector will run on electricity, will depend on the electric ecosystem. For example, the chip industry, data centers, and industries connected to AI - their food and water is electricity. Therefore, if we want to become a superpower in AI before the world, the country must prepare and build its ecosystem. This is exactly what India is doing on the ground. That is why agreements are being made with some countries for uranium, with others for critical minerals and rare earth minerals. All this effort is being made day and night to secure the future of the country’s youth - for your future.

Friends,

The world is changing rapidly, so the needs of the world are also changing. And in the same way, our methods of study and learning are also changing. Earlier the focus was only on degrees, but now along with degrees, the focus is also on skills. The importance of skill is increasing. It has become a major need that youth should have skills, and those skills should be upgraded from time to time. That is why today we are reshaping our education policy, our teaching and training institutions in a new form. And with this spirit, from the Red Fort I also made two major announcements for youth power. The first announcement is connected with the country’s traditional need. You all know that in our country millions of youth prepare for competitive exams. Every year, a large part of the income of our middle‑class families is spent on coaching for these children. Our effort is to save the money of such poor and middle‑class families. That is why now the government is moving forward to provide students with free online coaching arrangements. And coaching will be given by India’s best teachers. For our youth who are preparing, the government itself will take care of their coaching.

Friends,

It is equally important for India’s youth to be proficient in AI. We want our young generation to be prepared for AI. It is not that the need for AI learners is only in the IT sector. If someone knows this skill, he can create new AI solutions for agriculture. He can develop technology in the field of healthcare. He can increase productivity in manufacturing. He can start his own startup in robotics. Therefore, it is necessary that we have youth who understand AI and use AI for the industries of the country and the world. The government is going to launch a major campaign for this.

Friends,

This period of India is unprecedented. This is the era of the rise of India’s youth power. This time will not return again in India’s life. Therefore, we must keep the goal of a developed India in 2047 as supreme. We must make India developed. With this call, once again I extend many congratulations to you all for the development works.

Now I have one task for the people of Vadodara - will you do it? Surely? You have made Vadodara so clean, it took so much effort. I saw our youth working day and night in cleaning. But let us decide once that now we will not allow Vadodara to become dirty again. If each of us takes the pledge, “I will not create dirt myself,” then will Vadodara become dirty? Will Vadodara become dirty? Then Diwali will shine brilliantly, Navratri will be celebrated splendidly, Ganeshotsav will be adorned with glory. So this much work will surely be done.

Well done.

Thank you.

Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Bharat Mata ki Jai!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

***********

MJPS/SS/VJ/ST

(रिलीज़ आईडी: 2307844) आगंतुक पटल : 321