PM Modi Unveils Projects Worth Over ₹35,000 Crore in Vadodara, Highlights DFC and Manufacturing Push
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday laid foundation stones, inaugurated and dedicated development projects worth more than ₹35,000 crore in Vadodara, highlighting infrastructure expansion, freight connectivity, manufacturing, clean energy, skill development and artificial intelligence as key pillars of India’s growth strategy.
Addressing a large gathering at the Maharaja Sayajirao University ground, Modi said the projects being launched in Gujarat would contribute to the country’s broader objective of building a developed India by 2047. He said infrastructure was being strengthened to move people and goods faster, create new economic opportunities and support employment and growth.
A major focus of the Prime Minister’s address was the completion of the 2,800-km Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) network. He described the milestone as a historic achievement for 21st-century India and said Vadodara had a special connection with the project, with the final links of the massive freight network being completed in the city.
Dedicated Freight Corridor emerges as India’s freight lifeline
Modi said the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors are transforming India’s logistics system by separating freight movement from passenger traffic.
According to the Prime Minister, more than 430 freight trains can now operate daily on the dedicated network. The corridors are also significantly reducing freight transit times. He said journeys that earlier took around 30 hours by road could be completed in approximately 10 to 12 hours through the new freight network in relevant corridors.
The faster movement of goods is expected to reduce fuel consumption, lower transportation costs and reduce the environmental impact of freight movement.
Modi said the investment in the DFC was generating multiple benefits beyond the freight network itself. By shifting goods trains to dedicated routes, capacity is being released on conventional railway lines, allowing Indian Railways to operate more passenger services and improve train punctuality.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the agricultural benefits of improved freight connectivity. Perishable commodities such as fruits, vegetables and flowers can now reach larger markets and mandis more quickly, reducing transportation delays and helping farmers access wider markets.
Double-stack freight train carries cargo equivalent to hundreds of trucks
Highlighting the growing capacity of India’s freight railway system, Modi referred to the successful operation of a double-stack container train from JNPT Port to Vadodara.
He said a single such train can carry cargo equivalent to more than 250 trucks, demonstrating the significant increase in freight-carrying capacity offered by the Dedicated Freight Corridor.
The use of double-stack container trains, combined with long-haul freight operations, is expected to strengthen India’s logistics network and improve the movement of goods between ports, manufacturing centres and major consumption markets.
Rail connectivity reaches tribal regions
The Prime Minister also highlighted the expansion of railway services into previously underserved regions.
He said new train services are being introduced to improve connectivity with areas including Chhota Udepur and Alirajpur, benefiting people in tribal and relatively remote parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
According to Modi, railway connectivity is now reaching regions that had remained outside the railway network for decades.
Infrastructure investment driving employment
Modi linked the expansion of railways with a broader infrastructure push covering roads, metros, airports, ports and gas pipelines.
He pointed to a railway budget of more than ₹2.75 lakh crore, saying large-scale public investment in infrastructure was generating employment and creating new economic activity.
He said infrastructure projects often produce economic benefits beyond the project itself. Construction of houses, expansion of ports and development of transportation networks can create opportunities for industries, businesses and service providers in surrounding areas.
Vadodara’s manufacturing legacy gets a new chapter
Turning to manufacturing, Modi highlighted Vadodara’s long industrial history, noting its evolution from textiles to petrochemicals and its emergence as a major MSME hub.
He also highlighted Vadodara’s growing role in India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem, pointing to the city’s association with the production of the C-295 military transport aircraft.
The Prime Minister said the first domestically manufactured C-295 aircraft had already taken flight from Vadodara, describing the development as an important milestone in India’s journey towards greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
India expands railway manufacturing capacity
Modi also cited India’s growing domestic manufacturing capabilities in the railway sector.
He said that since 2014, India has manufactured approximately 50,000 modern railway coaches and added nearly 2.5 lakh wagons to the railway network.
He said India has increasingly established itself as a major manufacturer of railway coaches, metro coaches, wagons and locomotive engines.
The expansion of domestic manufacturing, according to the Prime Minister, is part of a larger strategy to reduce dependence on imports and build globally competitive Indian industries.
From chips to ships
The Prime Minister described the country’s manufacturing transformation with the phrase “from chips to ships”, underlining the government’s push to develop domestic capabilities across critical sectors.
He highlighted the expansion of India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem, including domestic production of solar photovoltaic modules. He also referred to the country’s growing renewable energy capacity and projects such as the Kadana Dam floating solar project.
Modi said the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has enabled around 55 lakh families across India, including approximately 11 lakh families in Gujarat, to become electricity producers through rooftop solar installations.
He said the expansion of rooftop solar was also generating employment opportunities and strengthening local economic activity.
Energy security crucial for AI and data centres
Looking ahead, Modi said a strong and reliable electricity ecosystem would be essential for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data centres.
He said India was working to secure access to uranium, critical minerals and rare earth elements through international agreements and other measures.
According to the Prime Minister, establishing a robust energy and critical-mineral supply chain will be essential for India’s ambition to emerge as a global leader in AI and advanced technologies.
Skills and AI to shape India’s future workforce
Modi also stressed the need to prepare India’s youth for a rapidly changing global economy.
He said traditional educational qualifications alone would no longer be sufficient and highlighted the importance of continuous skill development and upgrading.
The government, he said, is restructuring education and training systems to make India’s workforce more responsive to changing industry requirements.
The Prime Minister also announced a major initiative to provide free coaching for competitive examinations, aimed at reducing the financial burden on poor and middle-class families.
He said the government would take responsibility for supporting young people preparing for competitive examinations and pursuing career opportunities.
AI was another major theme of the address. Modi said artificial intelligence should not be viewed only as an IT-sector technology, but as a capability that can transform sectors including agriculture, healthcare, robotics and manufacturing.
He said India would launch a large-scale campaign to equip young people with AI skills, enabling them to develop new applications, improve productivity and create technology-driven startups.
Concluding his address, Modi called for sustained efforts to utilise India’s demographic dividend and accelerate development with the goal of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The projects inaugurated and launched in Vadodara, he said, reflect a broader strategy focused on faster connectivity, stronger manufacturing, cleaner energy, better skills and advanced technology to drive India’s next phase of economic growth.
