IndiaPosted at: Oct 29 2026 3:59PM


PM Modi to unveil Rs 14,400-crore Gujarat projects, release Rs 19,000 crore for farmers; Lead Patel anniversary celebrations

New Delhi, 29 OCT (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two-day visit to Gujarat on October 30 and 31, unveiling development projects worth more than Rs 14,400 crore, releasing around Rs 19,000 crore under the 24th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme and leading celebrations marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the country’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.
The visit will combine a major development programme in Banaskantha with infrastructure, agriculture, rural development and tourism initiatives at Ekta Nagar, culminating in the annual Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations on October 31, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Modi will begin his engagements on October 30 with visits to the Embryo Transfer Technology-In Vitro Fertilisation (ET-IVF) Laboratory and the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre (BBBRC) cattle farm in Banaskantha. At around 10.30 am, he will lay the foundation stones for development projects, inaugurate completed works and dedicate projects worth more than Rs 14,000 crore to the nation. He will also release the 24th instalment of PM-KISAN, flag off two train services and address a public gathering.
A major highlight of the programme will be the dedication of the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre at Bhildi. Spread across 127 acres, the state-of-the-art facility is designed to strengthen bovine breeding, genetic improvement and advanced reproductive technologies. According to the government, the centre will accelerate breed improvement by 10 to 20 times and become the country’s first facility of its kind dedicated to the indigenous Kankrej cattle breed associated with Gujarat.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stones for two Bio-CNG plants promoted by Banas Dairy at Tharad and Radhanpur, with capacities to process 75 metric tonnes and 100 metric tonnes of cattle dung daily, respectively. The plants are intended to convert cattle waste into cleaner fuel, improve resource utilisation and create additional opportunities for a more sustainable rural economy.
Urban transport and road connectivity will feature prominently in the development package. Modi will lay the foundation stone for two extensions of the Ahmedabad Metro network. Phase-2A will extend the network towards the airport over a stretch of more than six kilometres, covering five stations between Koteshwar Road and the airport. Phase-2B will connect GIFT City with Shahpur through a route of more than 3.3 kilometres and three stations. The extensions are expected to improve access to the airport and Gujarat International Finance Tec-City while strengthening public transport links across the Ahmedabad region.
Another major infrastructure project will be the widening of Ahmedabad-Mehsana Road, or State Highway-41, from four lanes to eight lanes at an estimated cost of around Rs 2,600 crore. The expansion is expected to improve travel between Ahmedabad and North Gujarat, reduce congestion and make road journeys faster and safer.
In a significant push towards early childhood care, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stones for 4,030 new child-friendly Anganwadi centres and inaugurate 361 completed centres across Gujarat. The initiative, involving an investment of Rs 800 crore, is expected to benefit more than four lakh people by strengthening facilities for young children and their families.
Agricultural infrastructure will form another substantial component of the programme. Modi will dedicate 521 projects completed under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, involving a combined project cost of around Rs 4,950 crore. The projects include cold storage facilities, cold chains, warehouses, silos, polyhouses, greenhouses, integrated primary and secondary processing facilities and primary processing centres.
The infrastructure is intended to improve storage, processing and market access, reduce post-harvest losses and help farmers secure better value for their produce.
The programme will also feature the inauguration of an expanded potato-processing plant at Sanadar and the commissioning of an Automated Storage and Retrieval System for ultra-high-temperature products at Palanpur. These facilities are expected to strengthen the region’s food-processing and storage capabilities, particularly in sectors such as potato cultivation and dairy production that are important to the local rural economy.
Rail connectivity will receive a further boost with the flagging off of the Ahmedabad (Sabarmati)-Varanasi Express and the Mehsana-Becharaji-Sabarmati MEMU service. The two services are intended to improve passenger connectivity between Gujarat and other parts of the country while facilitating regional travel.
The release of approximately Rs 19,000 crore under the 24th instalment of PM-KISAN will extend direct income support to eligible farmer families across the country. Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive Rs 6,000 annually in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each, subject to the prescribed eligibility conditions. The latest release will be a central element of the Banaskantha programme, linking the government’s agricultural development initiatives with direct financial assistance to farmers.
Modi will also mark the commencement of on-ground activities under 12 approved horticulture clusters covering approximately 1.46 lakh hectares and expected to benefit more than 1.3 lakh farmers. Two clusters in North Gujarat will focus on potatoes, underlining the crop’s importance to the region’s agricultural economy and food-processing sector.
After completing his Banaskantha engagements, the Prime Minister will travel to Ekta Nagar in Narmada district, home to the Statue of Unity, where he will inaugurate Bharat Parv 2026 at around 5 pm on October 30. The festival, scheduled to continue until November 15, will provide states and union Territories with a platform to showcase their cultural heritage, folk performances, regional cuisines, handicrafts and tourist attractions. The initiative is intended to promote national integration and encourage tourism in Ekta Nagar and neighbouring destinations.
At around 7.45 pm, Modi will witness Ekta Prakash Parv, a festival of illumination celebrating India’s unity, diversity, cultural heritage and progress. The installations include a 530-metre stretch of the illuminated Valley of Flowers Road, themed “From Ancient India to Modern India”, featuring presentations on the country’s civilisation, national identity, women’s empowerment, security forces, technology, yoga and children’s imagination.
Another attraction will be a 180-metre Glow Tunnel themed “Unity in India’s Diversity”, offering visitors a walkthrough presentation of the cultures, architecture, folk dances, handicrafts and lifestyles of the country’s four regions. More than 1.5 crore LED lights have been used in the installations, with artworks created by artists from different parts of the country.
The Prime Minister will attend the Narmada Aarti at around 8.15 pm before returning to the Ekta Nagar programme the following morning for the main events commemorating Patel’s 151st birth anniversary. Widely known as the “Iron Man of India”, Patel played a pivotal role in integrating the princely states into the Indian union following Independence, helping lay the foundations of the country’s political and territorial unity.
Modi will offer floral tributes at the Statue of Unity at around 9 am on October 31 before inaugurating, dedicating to the nation and laying the foundation stones for development projects worth more than Rs 400 crore in Ekta Nagar. The projects to be inaugurated include a sewage and water treatment plant, facade lighting works, the upgradation of Narmada Ghat, an IRCTC hotel and the Rainforest, Unity and Eco Trail attractions.
The new initiatives will include the development of Gora-Bhandra Road, an integrated zero-waste smart solid waste management project, the development of Khalwani as an eco-tourism destination and integrated facilities at the Cactus and Butterfly Garden. The Prime Minister will also visit the Rain Forest and Vaman Vriksha Vatika as part of the programme.
Ekta Nagar has increasingly emerged as a destination combining the Statue of Unity with tourism infrastructure, ecological attractions and public amenities. The latest projects are intended to expand its facilities while strengthening its appeal to visitors.
The principal event of the visit will be the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations on October 31, commemorating Patel’s 151st birth anniversary. The annual observance seeks to highlight his contribution to national integration and reinforce the message of unity across India’s diverse regions and communities.
This year’s celebrations will place “Vande Mataram” at the centre of the programme. Tableaux and cultural performances will reflect patriotism, national pride, collective belonging and the cultural diversity of states and union Territories, while highlighting regional aspirations and development journeys.
The Ekta Parade will showcase the discipline, professionalism, courage and dedication of the Central Armed Police Forces, state police forces and central police organisations. Particular emphasis will be placed on the achievements of security forces in combating Left-Wing Extremism and the transformation of areas previously affected by the problem towards peace, security and development.
A special theatrical presentation on “Naxal Mukt Bharat”, organised by the National School of Drama, will feature approximately 2,000 artists from 126 districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism. Through performances depicting the challenges faced by communities in these regions, the presentation will seek to portray their journey towards peace, security and development.
A separate grand cultural programme featuring around 5,000 artists from across the country will celebrate India’s classical and folk traditions through music, dance and other forms of artistic expression, bringing together performers representing the country’s varied cultural traditions.
The two-day visit brings together the government’s development agenda in agriculture, transport, rural infrastructure, food processing and tourism with a national celebration centred on Patel’s legacy of political integration. The combination of large infrastructure projects, direct financial assistance to farmers and cultural events at the Statue of Unity is expected to make the Gujarat engagements a major feature of the government’s development and national integration calendar.
UNI SKA RSA
Tags: #PM Modi to unveil Rs 14#400-crore Gujarat projects# release Rs 19#000 crore for farmers; Lead Patel anniversary celebrations
More News

Naseeruddin Shah faces backlash over ‘Dimagi Naxal’ remark; Rijiju calls actor ‘dangerous urban Naxal’

29 Oct 2026 | 4:39 PM

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has triggered a political controversy after describing himself as a “Dimagi Naxal” while criticising the government over student protests, the education system and the state of democracy, drawing sharp reactions from union Minister Kiren Rijiju and several BJP leaders.

see more..

INDIA Bloc plans 'Public impeachment' of CEC Gyanesh Kumar ahead of November 1 Rally

29 Oct 2026 | 4:01 PM

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) Leaders of the INDIA opposition bloc met at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence on Thursday to strategise for a public impeachment-style campaign against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, ahead of the alliance's November 1 rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan.

see more..

PM Modi to unveil Rs 14,400-crore Gujarat projects, release Rs 19,000 crore for farmers; Lead Patel anniversary celebrations

29 Oct 2026 | 3:59 PM

New Delhi, 29 OCT (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two-day visit to Gujarat on October 30 and 31, unveiling development projects worth more than Rs 14,400 crore, releasing around Rs 19,000 crore under the 24th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme and leading celebrations marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the country’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.

see more..

Why these MLC elections are important political markers despite being confined to four states

29 Oct 2026 | 3:23 PM

Vibha Sharma
New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) Only six states in the country—Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh—have a Legislative Council or Upper House of their state legislatures. And Graduates and Teachers constituencies for which these elections were held are the ones for which members are elected by graduates and teachers of that state.

see more..

Rajnath Singh offers India’s battle-tested counter-terrorism expertise to ADMM-Plus partners

29 Oct 2026 | 2:58 PM

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) India is ready to share its battle-tested counter-terrorism expertise with partner countries to strengthen collective security and joint operational capabilities, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday, asserting that the country’s experience in combating cross-border terrorism has been shaped by decades of operational challenges.

see more..