12 Years of Modi Govt: CM Patel Hails Gujarat's Water, Power Revolution

As PM Modi-led govt completes 12 years, CM Patel points to Gujarat's water and power turnaround

Ahmedabad, June 15

Speaking at the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sammelan' in Ahmedabad, organised under the theme "12 Years of Trust, Development and Public Welfare", CM Patel said development, public welfare and public trust were closely interconnected and that confidence in government strengthened when the benefits of schemes reached people directly.

Recalling Gujarat's earlier challenges, Chief Minister Patel said the state had once faced significant difficulties in securing basic infrastructure such as water and electricity.

"The major struggle that Gujarat once faced for water and electricity has now been completely overcome through uninterrupted power supply and the extensive Narmada network," he said, adding that the transformation had enabled regions such as Kutch to emerge as productive agricultural areas.

The Chief Minister attributed the changes to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the direct delivery of benefits under government schemes had strengthened public trust.

"PM Modi's approach of delivering, what he promises, had enabled the implementation of major decisions, including the abrogation of Article 370, Goods and Services Tax reforms and the Nari Shakti Vandan Act," he said.

Patel also pointed to Gujarat's emergence as a destination for semiconductor and chip manufacturing investments, describing the investments as a reflection of India's growing global credibility.

"Welfare initiatives such as the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme had provided significant support to economically weaker families by reducing their healthcare burden," he emphasised.

Calling for public participation in achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047, Patel urged citizens to fulfil their responsibilities towards environmental protection through initiatives such as 'Mission LiFE and Catch the Rain'.

Addressing the gathering, BJP State General Secretary and Zone In-Charge Ajay Brahmbhatt said: "Development, trust and public welfare had remained closely linked during the past 12 years of the Modi government. The administration's policies reflected a commitment to improving the lives of poor and vulnerable sections of society."

Brahmbhatt highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, under which lakh of families had received permanent housing, and said "free foodgrain distribution, Jan Dhan bank accounts and Ayushman Bharat cards had provided direct economic and healthcare benefits to low-income households".

He added that such welfare measures were helping bring citizens into the mainstream of the country's development journey.

BJP MP Hasmukh Patel said India's ambition of becoming a developed nation by 2047 depended on strengthening infrastructure and reducing logistics costs.

"The country had witnessed substantial progress in road, railway, air and water connectivity, including faster highway construction, extensive railway electrification and the commissioning of the Dedicated Freight Corridor between Mumbai and Delhi, which had reduced transport time and costs," he said.

He also referred to the expansion of airports across the country and said the development of a modern cargo terminal at Ahmedabad airport would help agricultural produce reach overseas markets more quickly, potentially improving returns for farmers.

He further cited the expansion of metro rail systems, port modernisation, the international adoption of UPI, the development of GIFT City and growth in defence exports as indicators of increasing economic self-reliance.

The conference was attended by Minister of State for Urban Development, Darshana Vaghela, Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, MP Dinesh Makwana, legislators, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation office-bearers and a large number of citizens.

— IANS