Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the first phase of the Rs 615-crore ‘roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro)’ ferry service between Ghogha in Bhavnagar district and Dahej in Bharuch in the Gulf of Cambay. “Every day, 12,000 people travel between south Gujarat and Saurashtra while 5000 vehicles ply between these two regions,” PM Modi said, adding that the ferry service will shave off the eight-hour journey time to just an hour.
He then inaugurated development projects and foundations in Vadodara before holding a roadshow across the city.
This was Modi’s third visit to the poll-bound state this month. He will lay foundation stones for a slew of projects Vadodara district as well. Besides, he will address a gathering in Ghogha and undertake a journey to Dahej from Ghogha on the ferry.
Below are the LIVE updates:
6.15 pm: The 14 km stretch from Navlakhi ground to Vadodara airport has been cordoned off for Narendra Modi’s road show, reports Aditi Raja.
6.13 pm: At several points on the Vadodara roadshow route, stage has been set up for cultural performances to ‘welcome’ PM Modi.
6.01 pm: PM Modi will now proceed to the airport with a roadshow across the city, passing through Alkapuri, Fatehgunj areas, reports Aditi Raja.
5.59 pm: PM Modi’s speech in Vadodara has ended.
5.58 pm: Appeal to all Indians that to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel on October 31 with ‘Run for Unity’: PM Modi.
5.56 pm: Gujarat wouldn’t have recovered from Bhuj earthquake if Atalji’s govt wasn’t at the Centre then: PM Modi in Vadodara
5.52 pm: Working for piped gas to reach every home in India; inauguration of HPCL expansion a step in the direction: PM Modi
5.50 pm: “Have set a deadline of 2022 for homes to all citizens, equipped with bijli, pani, toilet,” says PM Modi in Vadodara
5.48 pm: “Do you read about govt scams in newspapers anymore; like you read before?” asks PM Modi.
5.46 pm: “Roads were built earlier too; but they made one road/railway in a day, we make double road/railway in a day,” says PM Narendra Modi.
5.43 pm: Before 2014 polls, one party had announced it would give 12 LPG cylinders instead of 9; but our vision was to provide LPG connections to 5 crore homes and we have done it: PM Modi in Vadodara
5.40 pm: Committed to providing electricity to all villages; I had announced from the Red Fort that all villages will get electricity within 1,000 days; we have succeeded: PM Modi
5.37 pm: Each penny of public money should be used for ‘vikas’; we are eager to help in development works: PM Modi in Vadodara
5.35 pm: “These are the same people who won an election (Rajya Sabha) because ECI allowed recounting of the votes,” says PM Modi in Vadodara.
5.32 pm: The opposition couldn’t tell me anything so they are attacking Election Commission of India and raising questions about my visit to Gujarat: PM Modi
5.30 pm: “I have inaugurated development projects & foundations worth Rs 3650 cr today; it is my honour,” says PM Modi in Vadodara.
5.27 pm: PM Modi begins his public address with greetings to people on New Year; asks, “Kem Cho? Majja ma?”
5.25 pm: PM Modi lays foundation of the Capacity Expansion Project of HPCL’s Mundra-Delhi Petroleum pipeline which is approximately 1,050 km long.
5.22 pm: PM Modi digitally lays foundation of “development” of heritage site of Kalika Mata temple in Pavagadh in 3 phases, reports Aditi Raja.
5.19 pm: PM Modi hands over symbolic keys to tribal beneficiaries of state housing projects from Chhota Udepur, Panchmahals.
5.16 pm: PM Modi lays foundation of housing schemes for 3,000 beneficiaries; inaugurates 2,500 ready units of Gujarat Housing Board, reports Aditi Raja.
5.10 pm: PM Modi lays foundation of Rs 225 cr 3.1 km flyover from Genda Circle to Manisha Junction; which is touted to be state’s longest.
5.07 pm: PM Modi digitally inaugurates and lays foundation of Rs 1,140cr projects of VMC; includes Jan Mahal transportation hub, reports Aditi Raja.
5.00 pm: Gujarat and Vikas are synonymous. With a visionary leader like PM Modi, Gujarat is a role model of Vikas: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani
4.57 pm: “Once PM Modi sets the mood for the election campaigns, no one will be spared,” says Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani in his address in Vadodara.
4.55 pm: I warn the opposition that PM Modi will openly hold election campaign rallies across the state soon: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani
4.31 pm: PM Modi arrives in Vadodara, will address a public meeting here, reports ANI.
4.25 pm: PM Modi arrives in Vadodara. Modi will hold a roadshow across the city after the event in Navlakhi ground.
3.45 pm: PM Narendra Modi is en route Vadodara from Dahej to inaugurate Rs 1,140 crore VMC projects and lay foundation stone of HPCL pipeline expansion, reports Aditi Raja.
3.23 pm: PM Modi concludes his address at Dahej.
3.16 pm: We are committed towards fair & transparent functioning of the economy. Demonetisation & GST were steps in this direction: PM Narendra Modi in Dahej
3.13 pm: Government is focusing on infrastructure and connectivity. These are two key pillars for country’s development: PM Modi
3.10 pm: Our mantra is ‘P for P – Ports for Prosperity’: PM Narendra Modi in Dahej
3.08 pm: Industries should not be located far from coasts, it increases the ease of doing business and cuts down logistics: PM Narendra Modi
3.05 pm: Ro-ro ferry service will give a big boost to coastal shipping and tourism: Narendra Modi in Dahej
3.03 pm: The ro-ro ferry service launched today will give a new dimension to tourism sector of our country, says PM Narendra Modi
2.55 pm: PM Modi addresses a gathering in Dahej.
2.43 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Dahej, interacts with school children, reports ANI.
2.33 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on board a ro-ro ferry between Ghogha and Dahej, reports ANI.
2.03 pm: PM Modi will arrive in Vadodara shortly for public address and inauguration of projects of VMC and HPCL.
1.57 pm: PM Modi’s former washerman from Godhra, Chand Mohammad, passed away hours before Modi’s arrival in Vadodara, reports Aditi Raja.
1.37 pm: PM Modi is on board a ferry bound for Dahej from Ghogha
1.35 pm: Terminal of ro-ro ferry service at Ghogha.
1.10 pm: While PM Modi proceeds to the next event, you can read our detailed explainer on the Ghogha-Dahej ro-ro ferry in the meantime. Click here to read
1.02 pm: This is just the beginning. Private companies will come and launch such ferry services on their own. The rich people will hire such ferries for celebrating birthdays: PM Modi
1.00 pm: Central government will give Rs 40 lakh to fishermen for purchasing long-liner trawlers which will enable fishing beyond 12 nautical miles and in much deeper waters: PM Modi
12.45 pm: When I was serving as CM, I faced hostility from the then Central Government. Efforts were made to stall industries and the state’s growth. Over the last three years we have changed that and given importance to the development of Gujarat: PM Modi
12.40 pm: Modi said the ferry service will not be restricted to this one route. “There are plans to extend this service to Hazira, Pipavav, Jafrabad, Daman and Diu in Gujarat and Mumbai also,” he said.
12.38 pm: Work is in progress to set up a maritime university and a maritime museum at Lothal: PM Modi
12.35 pm: Previous governments had blocked development along coastline of Gujarat in the name of environment protection. But that has changed since you sent me to Delhi for serving you: PM Modi
12.27 pm: Every day, 12,000 people travel between south Gujarat and Saurashtra while 5000 vehicles ply between these two regions, said PM Modi, adding that the ferry service will shave off the journey time to just an hour from 8 hours.
12.25 pm: This ferry service is likely to bring back those glory days of Bhavnagar coast: PM Modi
12.20 pm: Past government had formed policies which hindered progress of dairy farming. Today, I’m happy to launch Rs 65-crore cattle feed plant of Sarvottam Dairy of Bhavnagar.
12.14 pm: Ghogha-Dahej ro-ro ferry service is the first of its kind in India and biggest in south Asia: PM Modi
12.13 pm: Today, entire Hindustan is getting an invaluable gift via Ghogha: PM Modi
12.12 pm: I am happy to be in Gujarat to personally convey new year greetings. This programme may be for a ferry between Ghogha and Dahej but this programme is of vital importance for the entire nation: PM Modi
12.10 pm: PM Modi is addressing the public meeting to inaugurate Ghogha-Dahej ferry service
12.06 pm: Dismissing suggestions that this inauguration has been timed ahead of elections, Rupani said the government had been working very hard for the last three years for getting Ghogha-Dahej ro-ro ferry service going.
12.05 pm: Gujarat is also No.1 in building toilets, LED conversation, MSMEs and in 20 points implementation for uplifting the poor: CM Rupani
12.04 pm: Gujarat No.1 in industrial output, production of cotton, groundnut, spices, milk, salt etc: CM Rupani
12.02 pm: Local BJP leaders felicitate Modi as the PM dedicates to public cattle feed plant of Sarvottam Dairy.
12.00 pm: Reflecting on the ferry service, Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the feet service will cut the 350 km distance to 30 minutes.
11.54 am: A first of its kind in India, the ferry will be able to carry up to 100 vehicles (cars, buses and trucks) and 250 passengers between the two ports.
Modi govt’s gift to Gujarat: Ghogha-Dahej RO-RO ferry service, first-of-its-kind project in South Asia to dramatically shorten travel time. pic.twitter.com/XWqCqeaMeI
— BJP (@BJP4India) October 22, 2017
11.49 am: Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is addressing the public meeting and said the Ghogha-Dahej ro-ro ferry will cover the longest-distance ferry service in India.
11.43 am: The Ghogha-Dahej ferry will reduce travel time and also enable movement of vehicles. This project will further Gujarat’s development, PM Modi had said in a tweet.
11.40 am: PM Narendra Modi at the launch of RO-RO ferry service and other projects in Ghogha, Gujarat.
11.15 am: PM Modi has reached in Bhavnagar and was received by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy CM Nitin Patel
Ghogha-Dahej Ferry Service will boost connectivity and infrastructure in Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/Hed5BoaT9V
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2017
Subsequently, PM Modi will leave for Vadodara, where he is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 1,140 crore. He is also expected to address people at Navlakhi compound in Vadodara.
Modi had visited Gujarat on Monday, when he addressed the BJP workers at a rally in Gandhinagar. Before that, he had visited his home town Vadnagar on October 8 and also inaugurated and laid foundation stones of various projects in Rajkot, Vadnagar, Gandhinagar, and Bharuch.