Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his two-day visit to Gujarat inaugurated a slew of projects in Dwarka and Rajkot districts. He held a grand roadshow from Jamnagar airport, where he was greeted by people amid chants of 'Modi, Modi' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.
He spent the night at the Jamnagar circuit house. The following day, he went scuba diving off the Panchkui beach coast in Devbhumi Dwarka district and offered prayers at the ancient submerged city of Dwarka, expressing it as a "divine experience." Clad in a white diving helmet and ochre robes, Modi sat cross-legged on the seabed, offering prayers and waving peacock feathers before Lord Krishna.
“More than courage, it was faith,” he said after coming out of the waters. Scuba diving takes place near Beyt Dwarka island, where visitors can remain in the underwater remains excavated by archaeologists.
Sharing his experience while addressing a gathering later in the day, Modi said: “When I heard about the undersea ancient city of Dwarka for the first time from archaeologists, I had decided that I will visit the place once. Today my wish has been fulfilled. I am overwhelmed. You can imagine how the feeling would be when what you have dreamt for decades comes true.”
“The vision of Dwarka in the sea has further strengthened my resolve of a developed India,” he said.
PM Modi also visited the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in Surat, where he dedicated two Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) to the nation. These projects, built by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) at a cost of more than £2.25 billion, boast a combined capacity of 1400 megawatts, making them the largest indigenous PHWRs, according to an official release. Additionally, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Valinath Mahadev Temple in Mehsana.
Inaugurates AIIMS Rajkot
“Abki Bar 400 Par’ - said Modi addressing a public rally in Rajkot and sought people’s blessings for the third term of NDA. The PM said that Modi’s guarantee began where hopes ended for others and promised to complete his guarantees in the emerging health sector. He also inaugurated All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) centre in Rajkot.
He became nostalgic when he remembered the starting of his electoral journey from Rajkot. “Yesterday (Feb 24) was the special day of my life. Rajkot has played a major role in the initiation of my electoral journey. Way back, 22-years ago Rajkot had first time blessed me and elected me as it’s MLA. On Feb 25, I took oath for the first time as an MLA of Rajkot in Gujarat assembly. At that time you (the people of Rajkot) made me debtor of your love and trust,” he said. “Today, after 22 years I can tell proudly to each member of Rajkot that I tried everything to live up to your trust.”
India’s longest stayed Cable Bridge
PM Modi inaugurated ‘Sudarshan Setu’, India's longest 2.32km long cable-stayed bridge on the Arabian Sea connecting Beyt Dwarka island to mainland Okha in Devbhumi Dwarka district. Modi praised the 'Sudarshan Setu' as an engineering marvel. It spans 2.32 km with 900 meters of double-span cable-stayed portion and a 2.45 km approach road, costing £98 million. The four-lane, 27.2-meter-wide bridge has 2.5-meter-wide footpaths on both sides. Engravings of Bhagavad Gita verses and Lord Krishna adorn its sides. Formerly known as the 'Signature Bridge,' it's now named 'Sudarshan Setu.
