Patel was speaking on the occasion of the 65th Gujarat Foundation Day celebrations at Godhra in Panchmahal district. (Express Photo)
Stating that Gujarat has become the hub of the “Make in India for the world” ecosystem, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday said that the development witnessed by Gujarat since 2001 was due to the “strong foundations” laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tenure as the CM of the state.
Patel was speaking on the occasion of the 65th Gujarat Foundation Day celebrations at Godhra in Panchmahal district.
Mentioning the inauguration of a German textile machinery manufacturing plant in Sanand, he said, “The ecosystem of Make in India for the world has grown in Gujarat. Yesterday (Wednesday), German company Trutzschler India inaugurated a textile machinery manufacturing plant in Sanand. The speciality of this plant is that it is the largest and the most advanced plant of the company, which has been set up in Gujarat in India. It is a matter of pride for us… Today, a Lithium-ion battery recycling plant of Rubamin company will be inaugurated in Halol, which will bring alive the vision of Prime Minister Modi for zero waste management for environment conservation.”
Patel said that the difference in the development witnessed by Gujarat since its foundation in 1960 to 2001 and thereafter is that in the latter phase, the progress is there “for everyone to see clearly”. Patel said that PM Modi had “laid strong foundations” for education, health, electricity, water, agriculture and rural development as well as roads in the state, setting the base for a “world class development” in Gujarat during his tenure as CM.
In his address, Patel said that PM Modi had “opened new doors” for healthcare and higher education of tribal children from Ambaji to Umargon. “Along with the districts in the eastern part of Gujarat, the tribal belt from Ambaji to Umbergaon have seen new doors opening with the Navbandhu Kalyan Yojana introduced by PM Modi in the areas of healthcare and higher education of tribal boys and girls. Special emphasis has been laid on the healthcare facilities…,” he said.
Patel stated that the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana had ensured “better infrastructure in tribal areas”, including connectivity by roads to remote tribal villages.
Patel said, “About 171 roads in tribal areas have been approved in principle, at a cost of Rs 250 crore. Additionally, for roads with heavy vehicles traffic, high-speed corridors are being developed. Provisions have also been made in the budget for 12 such Garvi Gujarat High-Speed Corridors… This includes Santrampur-Morva Hadaf road in Panchmahal district at a cost of Rs 617 crore… It will provide connectivity to more than three lakh villagers travelling from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mangadh and Statue of Unity… Apart from this, Rs 110 crore have been sanctioned to develop Halol bypass as a four-lane road.”
CM Patel inaugurated development works worth Rs 650 crore in Panchmahal, including the foundation stone of the UHT milk processing plant at Panchamrut Dairy and the virtual inauguration of the GauSort Technology-based Semen Sex Sorting Machine. The CM also inaugurated a Lithium-ion battery recycle plant in Halol.
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An exhibition of modern weapons and ammunition of the Gujarat police under Police Expo 2025 was also organised at Godhra. The display included lethal and non-lethal weapons, IED devices as well as search and disposal equipment used by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad. Apart from the Chetak Commando Force, the State Disaster Response Team put up eight stalls displaying equipment used for rescue operations during natural disasters. In addition, the Gujarat Marine Task Force showcased its modern weapons used for maritime security.
A newly constructed office of the Range IG was also inaugurated in Godhra.
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