On October 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and dedicated development projects worth over ₹14,000 crore in Banaskantha, Gujarat. During the event, he also laid the foundation stones for several new projects during the event.
Modi Ji also released 24th installment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, transferring more that ₹18,690 crore directly into the banks accounts of more than 9.34 crore farmers across the country. The projects cover agriculture, dairy, animal husbandry, transport infrastructure and child welfare, with the primary objective of strengthening rural livelihoods.
Agriculture Sector Gets Major Push
Highlighting the government’s support for farmers, Modi said nearly ₹4.5 lakh crore had been transferred directly to beneficiaries under PM-KISAN. He also highlighted fertiliser subsidies, MSP procurement and crop insurance as key measures to reduce farmers’ financial burden.
The Prime Minister also announced the progress made in 12 horticulture clusters, spanning an area of approximately 1.46 lakh hectares, which are expected to benefit over 1.3 lakh farmers. These clusters will promote crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, grapes, bananas, onions and pomegranates.
Rail, Metro and Road Infrastructure Expansion
The Prime Minister Modi Ji flagged off the Ahmedabad-Varanasi Sabarmati Express and the Mehsana-Becharaji-Sabarmati MEMU train services. Additionally, the foundation stone was laid for the Ahmedabad Metro extension project, which will connect GIFT City to the airport.
The Ahmedabad-Mehsana highway will be upgraded from its existing four-lane configuration to eight lanes, with the project estimated to cost around ₹2,600 crore.
Dairy and Animal Husbandry Initiatives
The Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre at Bhildi in Banaskantha was also inaugurated to strengthen indigenous cattle breeding and genetic improvement. Spread across 127 acres, the facility will focus on advanced breeding technologies, including in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), and is the country’s first dedicated research centre for the Kankrej cattle breed.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for two bio-CNG plants in Tharad and Radhanpur, developed by Banas Dairy, which have the capacity to process 75 and 100 metric tonnes of cattle dung per day, respectively. Other projects included the expansion of the potato processing plant at Sanadar and the commissioning of an automated dairy storage facility in Palanpur.
Gujarat Expands Anganwadi Infrastructure
The programme also included the inauguration of 361 Anganwadi centres, alongside the development of 4,030 new child-friendly centres across Gujarat. The initiative involves an investment of approximately ₹800 crore and is expected to benefit over four lakh people.
Modi highlighted the role of dairy cooperatives, fisheries, and beekeeping in strengthening the rural economy and increasing farmers’ incomes. He urged farmers to conserve water and electricity. Furthermore, he assured them of the government’s continued support to ensure the uninterrupted availability of fertilizers, despite global supply-related challenges.
Modi invited citizens to participate in the ‘Rastriya Ekta Diwas celebrations and the Run for Unity at Ekta Nagar on October 31st marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
(PIB)
