PM Modi to inaugurate India's third semiconductor plant in Sanand; Vaishnaw says vision of last 60 years finally realised
New Delhi, July 4
India's semiconductor journey is moving into commercial production mode, with the inauguration of the country's third chip plant in Sanand today marking a key milestone in building a domestic ecosystem and reducing import dependence, Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
The MiniSter spoke to media on sidelines of the Commencement of Commercial Production event at CG Semi's OSAT Facility scheduled to be held today in Sanand, Gujarat. The Minister said this development represents a major step forward in strengthening and reinforcing India's position in the global semiconductor value chain.
Vaishnaw said the semiconductor industry has been a national priority for the last 60 years. "Finally, it was possible with the vision and execution of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. He noted the pace of execution, with the first plant inaugurated in Sanand on 28th February, the second on 31st March, and the third plant being inaugurated today on 4th July.
Alongside the semiconductor milestone, Vaishnaw announced five key infrastructure decisions taken during a meeting with Ahmedabad leaders aimed at easing urban mobility and upgrading rail connectivity.
First, he said, an underpass is being built in Omnagar, Ahmedabad, and officials have been instructed to complete the work before Navratri. Second, a new master plan has been prepared for Asarwa station, which has historical significance as one of Ahmedabad's oldest areas. Under the plan, a new station will come up in the designated area and the surrounding zone will be developed as a big terminal, with the DRM office also located there.
Third, the government will create a second entry from Saranpur at Ahmedabad station to improve access and enable development on that side. Vaishnaw noted that Ahmedabad station is already being developed as a world-class facility. To address congestion, a flyover from Shahpur in Ahmedabad was also discussed with the Monument Authority. The Minister said he spoke to Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on phone and received assurance of full cooperation to help solve a major city problem.
Fourth, an extension of the station road from Sabarmati to Sabarmati station was discussed to ensure people can reach the station easily, with a detailed master plan already prepared.
Vaishnaw also gave an update on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, saying work is progressing very fast and the project is now almost 80% complete. He said the first section from Surat to Bilimora will be inaugurated next year in 2027, followed by Wapi to Surat, Wapi to Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad to Thane, and finally Ahmedabad to Mumbai. "A lot of hope for the country has been fulfilled for many years," he said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see the Gujarat focus paying off - Sanand is becoming a mini tech hub. But I hope other states also get similar plants. What about Tamil Nadu? Karnataka? We need a distributed approach so every region benefits. Still, kudos to the government for making this happen after 60 years of waiting!
I've worked in the semiconductor industry in the US for 20 years. India entering this space is a game-changer for global supply chains. The talent pool here is enormous - if we can match it with the right infrastructure, we could become a major player. Hope the government also invests in R&D and not just assembly.
The Ahmedabad infrastructure updates are equally exciting! Underpass before Navratri, bullet train 80% complete, new station at Asarwa - this is what good governance looks like. The bullet train from Surat to Bilimora next year is going to be a life-changer for daily commuters. Finally, our cities are getting world-class facilities.
All this is good but I'm skeptical about the timeline. Bullet train was supposed to be ready by 2023, now it's 2027? And these semiconductor plants - will they actually produce advanced chips or just do packaging? Let's wait and watch before celebrating too much. We've been let down before by big promises.
As someone from Ahmedabad, can I just say that the underpass near Omnagar and the second entry at Ahmedabad station are desperately needed? The traffic there is a nightmare during navratri. And building a world-class station at
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