Updated, Feb. 25. 2024. 4.20 PM.
Addressing a gathering after dedicating to the nation country’s longest, about 2.32 km. long, signature stayed bridge ‘Sudarshan Setu’ connecting Okha mainland and Beyt Dwatka island at Dwarka in Gujarat, the Prime Minister said that his decades-old dream of going to the deep waters of the ocean to see the ancient Dwarika has come true today.
Mr. Modi said that Sudarshan Setu is not just a facility but an engineering marvel. The Prime Minister appreciated the cleanliness of Dwarka and requested people to maintain such cleanliness in the future. People are seeing the new India with their own eyes due to development, he said. The Prime Minister accused the previous Congress government of lacking the will power and commitment to facilitate the common man. He said, the country is moving forward to become the fifth economic power of the world. He said that on one hand divine pilgrimage places are becoming modern and on the other hand, modern mega projects are creating a new picture of new India.
The PM also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth more than 4150 crore. Sudarshan Setu has a unique design, with footpaths decorated with verses from Srimad Bhagavad Gita and images of Lord Krishna on either side. It also has solar panels installed on the upper parts of the footpath, which generate one megawatt of electricity. The bridge will ease transportation and significantly reduce the time spent by devotees traveling between Dwarka and Bet-Dwarka. Before the construction of the bridge, pilgrims had to rely on boat transport to reach Bet Dwarka. This iconic bridge will also serve as the main tourist attraction of Devbhumi Dwarka.
The PM also inaugurated today pipeline project at Vadinar and three Rail Electrification projects in the state. The PM laid foundation stone of various projects including widening of Dhoraji-Jamkandorna-Kalavad section of NH-927 and Regional Science Center at Jamnagar.
The Prime Minister dedicated the Rajkot-Okha, Rajkot-Jetalsar-Somnath and Jetalsar-Vansjalia rail electrification projects to the country.
Later, PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for projects worth more than 48,100 crore at Race Course ground in Rajkot this evening. The PM will dedicate five new AIIMS to the country. During the event, the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation more than 200 Health Care Infrastructure Projects worth more than 11,500 crore rupees across 23 States and Union territories.