Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a high-profile two-day visit to his home state Gujarat on Monday, launching a slew of development projects worth over ₹77,400 crore. This marks his first trip to the state following the successful Operation Sindoor, in which India destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists.
The visit, packed with major infrastructural announcements, roadshows, and public meetings, spans Vadodara, Dahod, Bhuj, Ahmedabad, and Gandhinagar. It’s being viewed as both a developmental push and a politically significant outreach.
In Dahod, PM Modi inaugurated a Locomotive Manufacturing Shop at the Rolling Stock Workshop, constructed by the Ministry of Railways at a cost of ₹21,405 crore. He also dedicated India’s first 9,000 HP electric locomotive engine, developed under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, to the nation.
According to an official release, the railway production unit in Dahod is expected to employ over 10,000 people and manufacture around 1,200 high-powered locomotives over the next decade. Each engine will be capable of hauling 4,600 tonnes of cargo, positioning India as a significant player in global railway manufacturing.
Additionally, he inaugurated and laid foundation stones for railway projects worth ₹2,287 crore — including the doubling of critical railway lines like Anand-Godhra, Mehsana-Palanpur, and Rajkot-Hadmatiya. Other projects included the 107 km electrification of the Sabarmati-Botad line and gauge conversion work between Kalol-Kadi-Katosan. These bring the total railway investment announced during the visit to ₹23,692 crore.
The Prime Minister’s itinerary also includes:
- 9:45 am (May 26): Roadshow in Vadodara
- 11:15 am: Inauguration of Dahod locomotive unit and flag-off of electric locomotive
- 11:45 am: Laying of foundation stones for multiple projects worth ₹24,000 crore in Dahod
- 3:30 pm: Roadshow in Bhuj
- 4:00 pm: Unveiling of development projects worth ₹53,400 crore in Bhuj
- 7:45 pm: Roadshow in Ahmedabad
- 11:00 am (May 27): Launch of Urban Development Year 2025 in Gandhinagar
