PM starts off development projects worth Rs 22,000 crore in Dahod region

New Delhi, April 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday attended the Adijati Maha Sammelan in Dahod, inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth around Rs 22,000 crore. “Among the projects that have been inaugurated on Wednesday, one is a scheme related to drinking water and the other is a project related to making Dahod a smart city,” the PM said. The PM inaugurated Dahod District Southern Area Regional Water Supply Scheme, constructed on Narmada River Basin, worth around Rs 840 crore. It will cater to the water supply needs of around 280 villages in Dahod District and Devgadh Baria city. The Prime Minister also inaugurated five projects of Dahod Smart City worth around Rs 335 crore. These projects include Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) Building, Storm water drainage system, Sewerage works, Solid Waste Management System and Rain Water Harvesting System. The Prime Minister’s Office said that benefits worth Rs 120 crore were provided to 10,000 tribal of Panchmahal and Dahod districts under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The Prime Minister also inaugurated 66 KV Ghodia substation, Panchayat Houses, Anganwadis, among others. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for manufacturing of 9000 HP Electric Locomotives at the Production Unit in Dahod. The cost of the project is around Rs. 20,000 crores. Dahod workshop, established in 1926 for periodic overhaul of steam locomotives, will be upgraded to an electric locomotive manufacturing unit with infrastructural improvements. It will provide direct and indirect employment to over 10,000 people, the PMO said. The PM said that this huge investment will provide new opportunities to the youth of the area. Railway is getting upgraded in all aspects and manufacturing of such advanced locomotive is indication of India’s prowess, the PM said. “The demand for electric locomotives is increasing in foreign countries. Dahod will play a big role in meeting this demand. India is now one of the few countries in the world that makes powerful loco of 9 thousand horsepower,” he added. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of various projects of the State government worth around Rs 550 crore. This includes water supply related projects worth about Rs. 300 crore, Dahod Smart City projects worth around Rs. 175 crores, works related to Dudhimati river project, GETCO Substation at Ghodia, among others. Modi recalled his long association with the local tribal community and credited their blessings for inspiring him to undertake service of the nation. He also credited their support and blessing for a scenario where all the problems of tribal communities and specially those of women are being addressed by the government at centre and the state. Modi said that that many actual freedom fighters did not get their due recognition. He told about the recognition given to venerable fighters like Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The PM asked the local teachers to teach about the massacre in Dahod which was like Jallianwala Bagh massacre so that new generation knows about these incidents. Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, Darshana Jardosh, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and many Ministers from the Gujarat government were among those present on the occasion. (UNI)