Gujarat: PM Modi Launches Rs 14400 Crore Projects in Banaskantha Ahead of Bharat Parv at Ekta Nagar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched development projects worth over Rs 14,400 crore in Banaskantha district of Gujarat on Friday, October 30, as part of a two-day visit to the state. The Prime Minister received a warm welcome during a roadshow in Banaskantha before inaugurating, dedicating and laying foundation stones for projects spanning dairy research, clean energy, metro rail, roads, child welfare and farm infrastructure.
The centrepiece of the Banaskantha programme is the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre at Bhildi, a 127-acre Centre of Excellence built to strengthen bovine breeding, genetic improvement and advanced reproductive technologies. The centre, costing Rs 324.77 crore, is part of Banas Dairy projects worth Rs 407.56 crore in total, which also include an upgraded French fries processing plant at Sanadar.
The dairy sector received a further push through two Bio-CNG plants of Banas Dairy. The plant at Tharad will process 75 metric tonnes of cattle dung every day, while the Radhanpur plant will handle 100 metric tonnes a day, turning cattle waste into clean energy and extra income for dairy farmers.
Infrastructure projects in the package include the Ahmedabad Metro Phase-2A extension to the airport and Phase-2B extension to GIFT City, and the widening of the Ahmedabad-Mehsana road from four to eight lanes at an estimated cost of Rs 2,600 crore. The Prime Minister also flagged off the Ahmedabad (Sabarmati)-Varanasi Express and the Mehsana-Becharaji-Sabarmati MEMU services.
For rural welfare, the visit covers 4,030 new child-friendly Anganwadi centres along with 361 completed centres, and 521 completed projects under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund with a combined cost of about Rs 4,950 crore, including cold storage, warehouses, silos and processing facilities.
Later in the day, Modi will travel to Ekta Nagar in Narmada district to inaugurate Bharat Parv 2026, a festival showcasing the traditions, folk performances, regional cuisines, handicrafts and tourism of states and Union Territories. The festival will run until November 15 and will be accompanied by Ekta Prakash Parv, an illumination display of more than 1.5 crore LED lights, followed by the Narmada Aarti.
On Saturday, October 31, the Prime Minister will offer floral tributes at the Statue of Unity and launch projects worth over Rs 400 crore at Ekta Nagar, including a sewage and water treatment plant, upgraded Narmada Ghat, facade lighting, an IRCTC hotel and new tourism trails, marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 151st birth anniversary and National Unity Day.
