Gandhinagar, May 27 (H.S.): On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a ceremony at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Urban Development Year 2005. During the event, he inaugurated and laid the foundation for multiple urban development projects totaling ₹5536 crores across various departments, including Urban Development, Health, and Water Supply. Notable inaugurations included projects worth ₹1447 crores for cities like Jamnagar, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Junagadh. The Prime Minister also launched urban development initiatives worth ₹1347 crores and the Sabarmati Riverfront Phase-3, projected at ₹1000 crores in Ahmedabad. Additionally, he inaugurated over 22,000 residential units under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, costing ₹1006 crores.

He released ₹3,300 crores to urban local bodies in Gujarat via the Golden Jubilee Chief Minister Urban Development Scheme, alongside projects worth ₹170 crores from the Road and Building Department and ₹1860 crores from the Water Resources Department. The UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology was inaugurated, and the foundation was laid for a new 1800-bed hospital in Ahmedabad, including facilities for infectious diseases.

Modi also distributed cheques totaling ₹2731 crores to 17 municipalities and ₹569 crores to 149 municipal councils. Among projects highlighted was the ₹145 crore 'Wild Valley Biodiversity Park' in Surat, aimed at promoting eco-friendliness. The event was attended by key dignitaries, and Modi launched the Urban Development Year 2025 and the State Clean Air Program, reflecting on his role in starting the 2005 initiative to enhance urban living standards.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar