Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a massive public gathering in Banaskantha, Gujarat, inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for development initiatives worth over ₹14,000 crore.The address focused extensively on agricultural modernisation, farmer empowerment, livestock technology, infrastructure upgrades, and national unity ahead of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary.
Key Highlights of the Address
- Release of the 24th PM-KISAN Instalment:Over ₹19,000 crore was directly credited into the bank accounts of nearly 10 crore farmers across the country, benefiting more than 50 lakh farmers in Gujarat alone.
- Revolutionizing Animal Husbandry:Dedication of the state-of-the-art Bovine Breeding and Research Centre spread across 127 acres in Banaskantha, incorporating embryo transfer technology and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) to protect indigenous breeds like Kankrej.
- Major Infrastructure Thrust:Laying the foundation stones for Ahmedabad Metro Phases 2A and 2B and the widening of the Ahmedabad–Mehsana Highway into an 8-lane expressway costing roughly ₹2,600 crore.
- National Cohesion:A call to citizens and youth across India to participate wholeheartedly in the upcoming Run for Unity commemorating Sardar Patel on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
Full Text Overview of the Address
My dear brothers and sisters of Gujarat,
Today, standing before you on the soil of Banaskantha, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude. Gujarat has always shown the nation how determination, hard work, and forward-looking governance can transform challenges into thriving opportunities. Decades ago, this land faced severe water scarcity and drought. People spoke of distress and out-migration. But through your sweat, unwavering spirit, and trust in innovation, North Gujarat has rewritten its destiny. Today, it stands as a flourishing hub of green fields, dairy cooperatives, and industrial momentum.
We have gathered today to take another massive leap in our journey toward Viksit Bharat. A short while ago, multiple development works exceeding ₹14,000 crore were either dedicated to the nation or had their foundation stones laid.These projects span agriculture, modern animal husbandry, dairy science, highways, urban metro mobility, and rural prosperity.
Direct Empowerment of India’s Annadatas
A nation cannot become truly strong or self-reliant unless its farmers are economically secure. Agriculture in our country is not merely an occupation; it is deeply woven into our civilisational ethos and culture.
Today, from this sacred soil, we disbursed the 24th instalment of the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi.An amount exceeding ₹19,000 crore has been transferred directly into the bank accounts of nearly 10 crore small and marginal farmers across India with a single click, completely eliminating middlemen and leakages.In Gujarat alone, more than 50 lakh farmers have received direct financial assistance under this scheme today.
At a time when global geopolitics and conflicts in the Gulf have caused worldwide supply chain dislocations and driven up input costs, our government has ensured that the burden does not fall upon our farmers. We absorbed record subsidies on chemical and organic fertilisers. Certain elements attempt to sow discord and spread baseless rumours regarding shortages of fertilisers and gas, but our administration remains dedicated to shielding our farming community from global shocks.
Scientific Breakthroughs in Animal Husbandry and Dairy
For generations, our farmers have relied on dairy farming alongside traditional crops. Today marks a historic milestone in India’s bovine breeding and dairy technology.
We have inaugurated the comprehensive Bovine Breeding and Research Centre across 127 acres right here in Banaskantha.This facility is equipped with modern embryology laboratories and In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) setups. For years, our dairy sector has delivered phenomenal output, but our focus now extends to scientific genetic enhancement. This modern institution is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and propagating world-renowned indigenous breeds, most notably our hardy Kankrej cattle.
When our farmers gain access to high-yielding, disease-resistant indigenous cattle through modern IVF, average milk yields will multiply, input costs will decline, and rural household earnings will experience a dramatic rise. Technology must not remain confined to air-conditioned laboratories in metropolitan cities; it must work for the farmer in the cow shed and the open field.
Transforming Connectivity: Highways and Metro Lines
Modern connectivity is the foundation of economic velocity. Without seamless logistics and rapid transit, industrial growth remains localized. Today’s inaugurations directly accelerate this vision.
We have initiated the expansion of the Ahmedabad–Mehsana State Highway 41 into an 8-lane corridor at an investment of over ₹2,600 crore.This project will significantly decongest traffic between North Gujarat and central industrial zones, reducing travel time, lowering fuel consumption, and making commutes safer and faster.
Simultaneously, we have laid the foundation stone for the expansion of Ahmedabad Metro Phase-2A and Phase-2B.Phase-2A will span over six kilometres from Koteshwar Road straight to the airport with five stations, while Phase-2B connects GIFT City to Shahpur across three major stations. By linking financial hubs, administrative nodes, and international airports through eco-friendly rapid transit, Gujarat continues to establish the gold standard for sustainable urban growth.
Unity as the Bedrock of Progress
Tomorrow, on the 31st of October, the entire nation will mark the birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Sardar Patel stitched together hundreds of princely states to forge a united, sovereign India.
From Ekta Nagar, beside the towering Statue of Unity, to every district and village across our country, we will celebrate Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. I call upon the youth across India—from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and from Kutch to Kamakhya—to take part enthusiastically in the Run for Unity.
Development requires stability, and stability requires absolute unity. Whenever foreign powers or narrow interests attempted to divide our society on the basis of region, language, or caste, it weakened our collective strength. Our resolve must remain anchored in the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat. When our farmers, our youth, our women, and our entrepreneurs walk shoulder-to-shoulder, no force on earth can deter India from reaching its rightful place as a developed nation by 2047.
I congratulate all the people of Banaskantha and Gujarat for these transformative initiatives. Let us pledge to continue building an India where heritage and modern technology walk hand-in-hand.
Bharat Mata ki Jai! Vande Mataram!
