Speaking at Bharuch in Central Gujarat, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today said that Bharuch will witness transformation like nearby Surat in next 10-15 years with development of Dahej, Bhadbhut barrage project, Statue of Unity project, roads and river transportation, new river bridge and bus-port.

‘Yesterday I was near river Ganga, today I am near river Narmada. Yesterday it was Benaras, today it’s Bharuch. Benaras is older than India’s history, Bharuch is ancient town of Gujarat.’

‘I first of all want to congratulate Nitin Gadkari, his team and Gujarat government from heart. World will never know what it means to have this bridge here. Bharuch has faced many difficulties due to lack of this bridge. Ambulances were on halt for hours and people suffered here. People of Gujarat are very well aware that what it means to have this facility here. This problem was not limited to Bharuch and Ankleshwar, it was causing pain to entire western India. When I was Chief Minister, I kept fighting for it. When I got opportunity, this bridge through use of modern technology for the first time in India was completed in time-limit. Nitinji with zealous approach took up this task in his hand and followed it up regularly. His department’s entire team was working hard for it and therefore we are able to inaugurate it today.’

‘I was in Uttar Pradesh recently, where I would visit various places during campaign. People would show me monuments. They would show me a pillars of bridge project for which foundation stone was laid 15 years ago. Just two pillars, and work had not progressed. In Kashi 13-year old structure is hanging in air. If they had given it to central govt, I could finish it. In this country in which any project used to take 10-12-15 years for completion and it had become usual, we used to complete the works in fix time in Gujarat and now we are doing it at national level.’

‘I was fortunate to visit Dahej today. Dahej is not just a jewel of Bharuch. It is a jewel of India. When it will be developed fully, it will have capacity to offer employment to around 8 lakh persons. This area will have that opportunity. I used to visit Dahej often. I am familiar to its all pockets. I have seen it developing before my eyes. Today PCPIR, OPal is going to give it a new strength, and it is happening in Bharuch.’

‘I want to congratulate the Chief Minister of Gujarat. When I was a CM here, I used to think what kind of govt is this that, rich person gets all facilities when he travels. Doesn’t poor have same right? Only flyers should have such facility? And then we built the first bu-sport in Vadodara under Public Private Partnership(PPP) model, video of which has been seen on Youtube by lakhs across the world with surprise – can there be a bus-stop like this? Poorest person uses the bus-stop. Do visit one such bus port in Vadodara, and you find it totally clean. Then another was built in Ahmedabad. So far four such bus ports have been built. I am happy that the state govt has taken the programme ahead and decided to build one such bus port at Bharuch.’

‘Vijaybhai mentioned Bhadbhuj weir construction project in his speech. Bhadbhut project will transform the life in Bharuch. Imagine entire road stretch from Bharuch to Sardar Sarovar dam in 150 km length with rich water level on both sides in 20 km area. When I was CM, I was told about drinking water issues that affect this area. After Bhadbhut wier, good quality clean water will be available here. You are witnessing the development of Bharuch. You may note it down, in next 10-15 years Bharuch will transform. I can visualize it clearly. World’s tallest Sardar Patel statue Statue of Unity will be built. Global tourists will arrive here. Nitinbhai is building a road to Kevadia colony. I have asked Nitinbhai to see that small ships are put in operation in Narmada water to travel between Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam and Bhadbhut barrage. People do celebrate birthdays in small boats in Goa. Surtis and people of Bharuch too will celebrate birthday here. How much change it can bring.’

DeshGujarat