Narendra Modi's Gujarat visit Live updates: Those opposing Rajkot international airport can take bus, says PM

Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the previous UPA government of having been indifferent towards Gujarat including over sanctioning of development projects.

Latest updates

- The roads here (in Surendranagar district) were accident prone. It was Keshubhai Patel who worked towards making better roads and making them safer, says PM.

- Those who are opposing the Rajkot airport, can take the bus, says PM.

- Aviation cannot be about rich people. We have made aviation affordable and within reach of the lesser privileged, says PM.

- The definition of development is changing. Earlier, a hand pump would be put and a leader would use that for multiple elections. Things have changed now. We are bringing waters of the Narmada here, for the benefit of citizens, PM says

- The Prime Minister addresses a public meeting in Rajkot.

- PM Modi lays foundation stone of green field airport at Rajkot.

- When there is trust in a government and when policies are made with best intentions, it is natural for people to support us for the best interests of the nation, says PM

- Diwali has come early for our citizens due to the decisions taken in the GST Council. We had said we will study all aspects relating to GST for 3 months, including the shortcomings. And thus, the decisions were taken with consensus at the GST council: PM @narendramodi

- On Friday our government addressed the concerns regarding Goods and Services Tax (GST), and announced a slew of measures to ease the concerns of traders, exporters and small businesses.

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- Marine policing is a sector we are looking at very closely. We are modernising marine security apparatus. An institute for this will be set up in this Devbhoomi of Dwarka. It will draw people and experts from all over India, announces PM.

- Taking a swipe at previous Congress regime, PM Modi says, When Madhavsinh Solanki ji was CM, I recall front page advertisements for the CM coming to Jamnagar to inaugurate a water tank. This is how narrow their conception of development was. We have come a long way since then & are looking at more all round & extensive progress.

- Building of infrastructure should enhance economic activities and add to the atmosphere of development, says PM.

- Development of the tourism sector cannot be in isolation. If we want to draw more tourists to Gir, we should also inspire the tourist to visit other parts like Dwarka, PM asserts.

- I still recall how tough it was for people of Bet Dwarka. Lack of infrastructure meant transportation was tough, people faced difficulties if an emergency came up. We wanted to change this with a push on infrastructure, says PM.

- The people in Bet are well versed with the problems they have faced in terms of conveyance, PM says, adding that I am happy to be taking the place to development and making it easy for the people to commute. 

- What we are working towards is not merely a bridge to reach Bet Dwarka, it connects us to our history and culture, PM says. 

- Today I am seeing a very different mood here in Dwarka. There is tremendous enthusiasm here, PM says.

- PM Modi addresses the gathering

- PM Modi lays the foundation stone of a bridge between Okha and Bet Dwarka.

- PM to lay the foundation stone of a bridge between Okha and Bet Dwarka shortly. Union Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources Nitin Gadkari also present at the event.

- He began the tour with prayers at the Dwarkadheesh Temple in the historic Dwarka town.

On October 8, the Prime Minister will arrive in Vadnagar. This will be PM Modi’s first visit to the town, since assuming the office of Prime Minister.

He will visit the Hatkeshwar Temple. At a public meeting, the Prime Minister will launch the Intensified Mission Indradhanush, to accelerate progress towards the goal of full immunisation coverage.

It will provide greater focus on urban areas and other pockets of low immunisation coverage. The Prime Minister will distribute e-tablets to health workers to mark the launch of ImTeCHO. ImTeCHO is an innovative mobile phone application to improve performance of ASHAs through better supervision, support and motivation for increasing coverage of proven maternal, newborn and child health interventions among resource-poor settings in India. ImTeCHO stands for “Innovative mobile-phone Technology for Community Health Operations”. “TeCHO” in Gujarati means “support”; therefore, “ImTeCHO” means “I am support.” The Prime Minister will address a public meeting.

The Prime Minister will then arrive at Bharuch. He will lay the foundation stone for Bhadbhut Barrage, to be built over the Narmada River. He will flag off the Antyodaya Express between Udhna (Surat, Gujarat), and Jaynagar (Bihar).

He will unveil plaques to mark the laying of foundation stone, and inauguration of various plants of Gujarat Narmada Fertilizer Corporation. He will address a public meeting.

The Prime Minister will return to Delhi on the October 8 evening.