Ahmedabad: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, virtually inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple infrastructure projects worth ₹146 crore in Ahmedabad. The event marked a significant step in enhancing connectivity and urban development in the region.
In his address, Amit Shah extended his greetings on the occasion of Holi and emphasized the impact of the newly launched projects. Among the key developments, he highlighted the construction of a one-kilometer-long railway overbridge on the Ahmedabad-Viramgam railway track at Sanand-Chekhla-Kadi Road, being built at a cost of ₹60 crore. He noted that once completed, the overbridge would significantly ease daily commutes for local residents.
Additionally, the foundation stone was laid for a four-lane bridge over the Narmada Canal on National Highway No. 147, an investment of ₹36.30 crore, and a flyover bridge on the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar (SG) Highway at Chharodi, costing ₹45 crore. Shah stated that these projects would establish new benchmarks of development in the four assembly constituencies of the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
Reflecting on Gujarat’s rapid progress, Amit Shah credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s commitment to large-scale infrastructure projects. He asserted that Gujarat leads the country in infrastructure development, and these initiatives would not only improve connectivity but also create employment opportunities and support the growth of industries and businesses.
Among the key announcements, Shah revealed plans for a state-of-the-art 500-bed hospital in Sanand, which will provide 24-hour medical services for the people of Sanand and Bavla talukas. He also informed that a 300-bed government hospital is under construction in Kalol Taluka. These healthcare facilities, along with various trust-run hospitals in the area, aim to ensure modern medical services are accessible to all.
Shah further outlined Gujarat’s role in India’s broader development trajectory, mentioning transformative projects such as the world’s largest green energy park in Kutch, Asia’s largest green city in Dholera, and India’s second-longest highway, the Surat-Chennai Expressway. He also highlighted the establishment of GIFT City in Ahmedabad as an international financial hub, the launch of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train, and the introduction of Rapid Rail service between Bhuj and Ahmedabad.
Touching upon national infrastructure growth, Shah stated that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India now possesses the world’s second-largest road network, the third-largest metro rail network, and the fourth-largest rail network. He pointed out that 136 Vande Bharat trains are currently in operation, with 97 percent of India’s broad-gauge railway network now electrified.
Over the past decade, the Modi government has increased the length of the national highways network by 60 percent. Shah asserted that the infrastructure progress achieved in the last 10 years surpasses that of the previous 70 years since independence. He further noted that the construction of four-lane highways has grown two and a half times, with an impressive 36.5 kilometers of highways being built daily. Additionally, the number of airports in the country has expanded to 157.
