Bharuch: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today laid the foundation stone of the Rs.8-crore jetty to be built at Luvara near Dahej for the benefit of about one lakh pilgrims performing ‘Narmada Parikrama’ every year.

 

Speaking on the occasion, he said the jetty to be built by Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) is scheduled to be ready in a year. He said the Rs.597-cr Dahej-Ghogha Ro-Ro ferry service across the Gulf of Khambhat is also expected to start in a year. It will reduce the distance between Surat and Bhavnagar, saving time and fuel.

 

Mr. Rupani also announced Rs.52-cr Narmada Parikrama Yojna, including comprehensive facelift of pilgrims’ centres like Kabirwad-Shukla Teerth, make Mithi Talai inaccessible portion walk able and constructing Vimleshwar Hodi Ghat on the banks of the Narmada. This includes surfaced approach roads, boat berthing, landscaping, ashrams and rest houses with sanitation, to be built by Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board. It is the only major river that the pilgrims encircle, hence called ‘Narmada Parikrama’.

 

 

He said the work on the Rs.3,000-cr Bhadbhut project on the Narmada River would also start soon to provide drinking water to Bharuch. He expressed hopes that 6.50-crore Gujaratis would prosper more with the blessings of the Narmada, revered as a Goddess. He said that his government encouraged pilgrimage along with protection of ‘Gau, Ganga, Gayatri’.

 

Minister of State for Home and Bharuch Guardian Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja said the Shravan Teerth Yojna is Gujarat Government’s scheme to provide 50 per cent assistance to senior citizens visit pilgrim centres. He described the Dahej jetty project as part of the Chief Minister’s transparency, compassion, decisiveness and progressiveness.

 

Minister of State for Co-operation Ishwarsinh Patel said that two boats have been requisitioned for the Narmada Parikrama from the Mansukhbhai Vasava’s MPLAD and two diesel boats by Thakore Gunwantbhai Charitable Trust.

 

 

Mahant Swami Girishanandji of Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) congratulated the Chief Minister and said that one lakh pilgrims perform Narmada Parikrama every year. It takes 25 days in vehicle, and three years by foot. Mahant Gangadas Bapu of Ankleshwar Ramkund also praised the project. Vagra MLA Arunsinh Rana also spoke.

 

Those present on the occasion included GMB Vice-Chairman Ajay Bhadoo, MP Mansukh Vasava, MLAs Dushyant Patel, Chhatrasinh Mori, Bharuch Guardian Secretary Shahmina Husain, BJP State General Secretary Bharatsinh Parmar, Collector Sandeep Sangle, DDO Shipra Agre and BJP District President Yogesh Patel.

– Information