With assembly elections round the corner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-day Navratri visit to Gujarat from Surat on Thursday. He has a packed tour with several programmes lined up that includes the dedication of several development projects, inauguration of the National Games and a visit to Ambaji temple.
On Thursday, Modi dedicated various projects worth more than Rs 3,400 crore in Surat, which included phase-I of the road infrastructure works and the main entrance of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City, laying the foundation stone of the Biodiversity Park, and inauguration of Khoj Museum at the Science Centre in Surat.
Underlining the positive impact of "double-engine government" -- a tagline being extensively used by the ruling BJP -- Modi said the construction of houses and other facilities provided to the poor and middle-class families of Surat has gone up significantly. He said the Ayushman Bharat scheme has benefitted about 40 million poor patients who have received free treatment in the country so far. Of these, more than 32 lakh patients are from Gujarat and 1.25 lakh are from Surat alone.
Taking a dig at the opposition, Modi said the road connectivity from the city to the airport reflects the culture, prosperity and modernity of Surat. "There are many friends here today, who have seen our long struggle for the airport and been a part of the same," Modi said.
"We used to get tired of telling the government (UPA) that was in Delhi then, why an airport was needed in Surat, what were the possibilities of Surat. See today, how many flights operate from here, how many people land here every day," he said. He same was true with the metro rail as well. "Now that there is a double engine government, permissions are granted fast and work is done fast," he said.
On Thursday, Modi dedicated various projects worth more than Rs 3,400 crore in Surat, which included phase-I of the road infrastructure works and the main entrance of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City, laying the foundation stone of the Biodiversity Park, and inauguration of Khoj Museum at the Science Centre in Surat.
Underlining the positive impact of "double-engine government" -- a tagline being extensively used by the ruling BJP -- Modi said the construction of houses and other facilities provided to the poor and middle-class families of Surat has gone up significantly. He said the Ayushman Bharat scheme has benefitted about 40 million poor patients who have received free treatment in the country so far. Of these, more than 32 lakh patients are from Gujarat and 1.25 lakh are from Surat alone.
Taking a dig at the opposition, Modi said the road connectivity from the city to the airport reflects the culture, prosperity and modernity of Surat. "There are many friends here today, who have seen our long struggle for the airport and been a part of the same," Modi said.
"We used to get tired of telling the government (UPA) that was in Delhi then, why an airport was needed in Surat, what were the possibilities of Surat. See today, how many flights operate from here, how many people land here every day," he said. He same was true with the metro rail as well. "Now that there is a double engine government, permissions are granted fast and work is done fast," he said.
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