Prime Minister and Chairman of Shree Somnath Trust, Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated Samudra Darshan Path, Somnath Exhibition Gallery and renovated precinct of Old Somnath Temple and laid the foundation stone for Shri Parvatimata Temple, through video conferencing. Veteran leader Shri Lal Krishna Advani, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, Union Minister of State for Tourism, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Vijay Rupani, were amongst several dignitaries who attended the program.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that ever since the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi got associated with the Somnath Trust in  2010, he has made a lot of efforts for overall development of this pilgrimage and the surrounding area has been developed as a single zone by the state government. Underlining the focus on cleanliness at the Somnath Temple, the Union Home Minister said that Somnath Temple is amongst a few temples in the country where special focus has been given on cleanliness by the Trust.

Shri Amit Shah said that this Jyotirlinga has been a centre of obeisance for not only Indians but crores of devotees from across the world.

Shri Amit Shah said that the Prime Minister took a big initiative for renovation of other pilgrimages at Somnath Dham, providing all facilities for comfort of tourists and popularising them on the tourism map and it all is yielding results.

Shri Amit Shah said that in order to enable devotees witness Somnath and the Prayer digitally, the Prime Minister made several efforts and monitored them and as a result, digital prayers of Somnath are amongst the top viewed prayers.

The Union Home Minister said that Somnath Temple is a symbol of the victory of construction over destruction and many attackers damaged this centre of obeisance, but it has resurrected with greater grandeur every time and today we are witnessing it before the world.

Shri Amit Shah said that after becoming the Prime Minister in 2014, Shri Narendra Modi brought pilgrimages of all religions under ‘PRASHAD’ (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) Scheme and emphasised on their infrastructure and development of amenities for tourists in surrounding areas.

Since last seven years, many pilgrimages have been benefitting from the ‘PRASHAD’ Scheme and devotees of all religions are able to pay their obeisance at their respective pilgrimages. He said that on the shores of the Arabian sea, a one-and-a-half kilometer long and eight metre wide corridor has been constructed where tourists can relax in the evening with their families and feel like being at a tourist spot.

The  Union Home Minister said that under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, the Somnath Trust has undertaken several initiatives for the development of this place and that he is confident that these will be completed in a time-bound manner.