The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, May 27 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a major boost to urban development in Gujarat by inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for projects worth ₹5,536 crore. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Gujarat’s Urban Development Mission, PM Modi participated in a grand ceremony held in Gandhinagar and unveiled a series of key urban infrastructure initiatives.
Marking a significant milestone, the Prime Minister inaugurated over 22,000 housing units built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) at a cost of ₹1,006 crore. In addition, he inaugurated urban development projects worth ₹1,447 crore and laid the foundation stone for upcoming works valued at ₹1,347 crore. Union Minister for Power, Housing, and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal welcomed the Prime Minister with a floral bouquet and a ceremonial shawl at the event, which highlighted two decades of Gujarat’s journey in structured urban transformation. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Manohar Lal said, “Modern Gujarat represents the model form of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India). Two decades ago, as the Chief Minister, PM Modi initiated Gujarat’s Urban Development Year, which has now evolved into a robust framework for city-building across India.”
He emphasized that building and maintaining smart cities is a challenging task, but under PM Modi’s leadership, significant strides have been made. “Urban planning is no longer limited to roads and drainage. With initiatives like the Smart Cities Mission, India is rapidly progressing toward modern, sustainable urban living,” he added.
Highlighting the progress of metro rail development, the Union Minister stated that India currently ranks third globally with 950 km of operational metro lines and is set to surpass the USA soon to claim the second spot, behind only China. More than 1,000 km of metro network is expected to be operational in the near future. He also emphasized the promotion of e-mobility as part of the government’s vision for future-ready cities.
Key Projects Inaugurated and Launched
Among the major initiatives unveiled:
22,000+ housing units under PMAY (₹1,006 crore)
Biodiversity Park in Surat (₹145 crore) on repurposed riverbank land
Urban projects across Jamnagar, Surat, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Junagadh (₹1,447 crore)
Urban infrastructure foundations worth ₹1,347 crore
Including ₹170 crore under Roads and Buildings
₹1,860 crore under Water Resources
₹558 crore for a 1,800-bed hospital, including a 500-bed infectious diseases hospital
In addition, under the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana, cheques worth ₹3,000 crore were distributed:
₹2,731 crore to 17 municipal corporations
₹569 crore to 149 municipalities
Minister Manohar Lal also noted that under PM Modi’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, efforts are being made nationwide to empower local urban bodies. New urban development authorities are being created to ensure the planned expansion of city outskirts, along with the provision of better services and infrastructure. He highlighted the success of Gujarat in national rankings:
Surat emerged as the cleanest city in India in the Swachh Survekshan 2023, earning a 7-star rating Ahmedabad ranked second nationally under the PM SVANidhi scheme .“These achievements reflect Gujarat’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable urban development,” the Minister concluded.
No Comments: