Vav-Tharad (Gujarat), March 31, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited Gujarat, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth a total of Rs 19,806.9 crore in the Vav-Tharad constituency of Banaskantha district. The massive development push, covering projects under both the Central Government and the Gujarat State Government, spans multiple sectors including power, road transport, railways, urban development, water resources, health, and housing. The event was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and senior officials from both governments.

The Vav-Tharad event is one of the largest single-day development initiative launches in Gujarat’s recent history, reflecting the BJP government’s focus on the state ahead of upcoming elections. The projects are expected to create thousands of jobs, improve connectivity in the border districts of North Gujarat, and bring modern infrastructure to one of the state’s more underdeveloped regions which shares a border with Pakistan.

Central Government Projects Worth Rs 10,921 Crore

Of the total Rs 19,806.9 crore, the Central Government is contributing Rs 10,921 crore through three key ministries:

Ministry of Power: Major power infrastructure upgrades are being initiated for the region, including grid expansion and renewable energy projects. Gujarat is already a leader in solar and wind power generation, and these new projects are expected to further strengthen the state’s energy security and contribute to India’s clean energy targets.

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: New national highways and road upgrades connecting Vav-Tharad to major cities and border areas are being inaugurated and laid. Improved road connectivity is critical for economic development in this region, which relies heavily on agriculture and small industries but has historically been constrained by poor transport links.

Ministry of Railways: In a major boost for the region, PM Modi flagged off the Khedbrahma-Himmatnagar-Asarva train from Khedbrahma, providing railway connectivity to areas that had been demanding it for decades. Railway projects worth Rs 891 crore are being inaugurated, including new tracks, station upgrades, and signal modernisation that will significantly reduce travel times and facilitate the movement of agricultural produce from the region to urban markets.

State Government Projects Worth Rs 8,886 Crore

The Gujarat State Government is contributing Rs 8,886 crore through multiple departments. These include:

• Urban Development: Smart city initiatives, drainage, and solid waste management projects for growing urban centres in the region.
• Water Resources and Water Supply: Critical water infrastructure including canals, irrigation networks, and drinking water pipelines for drought-prone areas.
• Roads and Buildings: State highway upgrades and government infrastructure construction.
• GIDC (Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation): Industrial zone development to attract investment and create employment.
• Health and Family Welfare: New hospitals, primary health centres, and medical equipment upgrades.
• Tourism: Development of tourist sites in the region to boost the local economy.
• Tribal Development: Special programmes for tribal communities in the area.
• Rural Development: Village infrastructure, rural roads, and livelihood programmes.

38,949 Families Get PMAY Homes

In one of the most emotionally resonant moments of the day, PM Modi facilitated housewarming ceremonies for 38,949 families across 34 districts of Gujarat under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) — the government’s flagship rural housing scheme. These families, many of them poor, tribal, or from marginalised communities, are receiving pucca (permanent) homes with basic amenities for the first time. The PMAY (Gramin) scheme has been one of the Modi government’s signature programmes, aiming to provide “Housing for All” by ensuring every family in rural India has a proper home.

For the recipients, the keys to their new homes represent far more than just bricks and mortar. In Gujarat’s rural areas, particularly in districts like Banaskantha that face drought conditions and economic challenges, a pucca home provides security, dignity, and protection from the elements. PM Modi personally handed over keys to symbolic beneficiaries at the event, with many emotional scenes as families who had waited years for their homes finally received them.

Strategic Importance of Vav-Tharad

The choice of Vav-Tharad constituency for this massive development push is strategically significant. Located in Banaskantha district in North Gujarat, Vav-Tharad borders Pakistan’s Sindh province. The region has historically been economically backward despite its strategic importance, with poor connectivity limiting development. The launch of Rs 19,800 crore worth of projects signals the government’s commitment to developing border areas and addressing the aspirations of communities in these strategically important regions.

The area is also significant politically. Gujarat is scheduled for assembly elections, and PM Modi’s constituency of Vadodara has strong ties to the state. The development push in Banaskantha, which has a large agricultural and tribal population, is seen as an attempt to consolidate BJP’s support base in this historically competitive region. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel hailed the projects as “transformative” and said they would “change the face of North Gujarat forever.”

Broader Context: India’s Development Despite Global Challenges

The Gujarat development launch comes at a challenging time for India’s economy, with the ongoing US-Iran war driving oil prices above $115 per barrel and causing an LPG supply crisis. Despite these headwinds, the government’s development momentum on domestic infrastructure continues unabated. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has stated that the fundamentals of the Indian economy remain strong, and the government’s capital expenditure programme is providing a critical stimulus to economic growth.

The inauguration of projects worth nearly Rs 20,000 crore in a single day demonstrates the scale of infrastructure investment that the Modi government has been driving across India. With the financial year 2025-26 ending today on March 31, 2026, these project launches also signal the government’s commitment to maintaining capital expenditure momentum into the new financial year 2026-27. For Gujarat’s citizens, and particularly for the 38,949 families receiving their new homes, today marks a day of tangible change delivered by the government’s development programmes.