Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched key projects to establish state-of-the art infrastructure in two major Gujarat cities which will serve as models of urbanisation for the rest of India.

In an effort to substantiate his vision of a New India, strong on urbanisation, PM Modi unveiled projects worth  ₹3400 crores at Surat, India’s famed diamond centre which was also now mutating into a centre for Electric Vehicles. The Prime Minster also took a major step to link Bhavnagar with the international energy supply chain by laying the foundation stone for establishing the world’s first CNG terminal worth ₹ 5200 crore.

In Surat the Prime Minister, inaugurated the main entrance of Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City, elevating the city’s status a modern diamond hub, with facilities that were at par with the best in the world.

PM Modi said that Surat figured among the fastest growing cities in the world–a far cry from the days when the city’s name was defamed for epidemics and floods.

The Prime Minister  stressed that very soon Surat will also be known for electric vehicles. “Today 25 charging stations have been inaugurated in Surat city and the foundation stone of the same number of stations has been laid. This is a big step towards setting up 500 charging stations in Surat in the near future.”

PM Modi said  that a new train will start from Surat to Varanasi, accelerating bustling trade between the two cities.  “ Railways has changed the design of its coaches in such a way that cargo can easily fit in it. One-ton containers have also been specially made for this. These containers are easily loaded and unloaded. After the initial success, now an attempt is being made to run a new train from Surat to Kashi. This train will take goods from Surat to Kashi,” the Prime Minister observed.

Speaking in Bhavnagar, PM Modi said that ,“We have tried to make Saurashtra a centre of energy. Today, whatever be the energy needs of the country, this region is becoming an important hub of that.”

He added: “Today, Gujarat’s coastline is emerging as synonymous with renewable energy and the hydrogen ecosystem.”

Modi underlined the importance of the coastal ecosystem in boosting overall economic activities in the country. Fishing harbours have been constructed and fish processing was promoted for the benefit of the fishermen’s community, he said. Mangrove forests have also been developed in the region.

India, with a coastline of about 7.5 thousand km has carved out a blueprint on blue economy. A holistic ocean policy is key for India’s economy to touch the $5 trillion mark, experts said, adding that issues relating to the environment and maritime security need to be weaved into the blueprint.

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