New Delhi, 30 October (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin a two-day visit to Gujarat on Friday, during which he will lay the foundation stones for, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation development projects worth more than Rs. 14,000 crore in Banaskantha. He will also release approximately Rs. 19,000 crore to farmers across the country as the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on the eve of the visit, PM Modi will visit the Embryo Transfer Technology and In-Vitro Fertilisation (ET-IVF) Laboratory and the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre in Banaskantha on October 30. He will subsequently launch several development initiatives, flag off two train services and address a public gathering.

The Prime Minister will dedicate the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre, established at Bhildi in Banaskantha, to the nation. Spread across 127 acres, the centre is intended to promote improvements in bovine breeds, genetic upgradation and modern reproductive technologies. It will be the first facility of its kind in the country dedicated to the Kankrej cattle breed. The initiative aims to accelerate the pace of breed improvement by 10 to 20 times.

PM Modi will also lay the foundation stones for two Bio-CNG plants of Banas Dairy, to be established at Tharad and Radhanpur. The plants will have the capacity to process 75 metric tonnes and 100 metric tonnes of cattle dung per day, respectively.

He will also lay the foundation stones for the expansion of Ahmedabad Metro under Phase II, including extensions to the airport and GIFT City. The airport extension will cover a stretch of more than six kilometres and comprise five stations, while the GIFT City extension will span over 3.3 kilometres and include three stations.

The Prime Minister will further lay the foundation stone for the upgradation of the Ahmedabad-Mehsana road, or State Highway-41, from four lanes to eight lanes. The project is estimated to cost around Rs. 2,600 crore.

In addition, he will lay the foundation stones for 4,030 new child-friendly Anganwadi centres across Gujarat and inaugurate 361 completed centres. The initiative, estimated to cost around Rs. 800 crore, is expected to benefit more than four lakh people.

PM Modi will dedicate to the nation 521 projects completed under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, involving an investment of approximately Rs. 4,950 crore. These projects include cold storage facilities, warehouses, silos, polyhouses, greenhouses and infrastructure for agricultural produce processing.

He will also inaugurate the expansion of the potato processing plant at Sanadar and commission an Automated Storage and Retrieval System for ultra-high-temperature (UHT) products at Palanpur.

The Prime Minister will flag off the Ahmedabad (Sabarmati)-Varanasi Express and the Mehsana-Becharaji-Sabarmati MEMU train services to strengthen rail connectivity.

Alongside releasing the 24th instalment of PM-KISAN,PM Modi will mark the commencement of on-ground activities under 12 approved horticulture clusters. Spread across approximately 1.46 lakh hectares, these clusters are expected to benefit more than 1.3 lakh farmers. Two clusters in North Gujarat will focus specifically on potato cultivation.

PM Modi will also inaugurate Bharat Parv 2026 at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia. The festival, which will continue until November 15, will showcase the folk traditions, regional cuisines, handicrafts and tourist attractions of various states and Union Territories. The Prime Minister will also witness Ekta Prakash Parv that evening, featuring illumination and artistic installations highlighting India's cultural diversity and national unity.

On October 31, the Prime Minister will participate in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity. Development projects worth more than Rs. 400 crore will also be inaugurated, dedicated to the nation or launched through foundation-stone ceremonies at Ekta Nagar.

The projects include sewage and water treatment facilities, the upgradation of Narmada Ghat, building façade illumination, an Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotel and tourism infrastructure, including a rainforest attraction. Foundation stones will also be laid for initiatives relating to zero-waste solid waste management, eco-tourism and road development.

This year's Rashtriya Ekta Diwas parade will place particular emphasis on the achievements of security forces in combating Left-Wing Extremism and the transformation of previously affected regions through improved peace, security and development.

The National School of Drama will stage a special theatrical presentation on the theme 'Naxal-Free India', featuring around 2,000 artists from 126 districts that have been affected by Left-Wing Extremism.

The overarching theme of the parade tableaux and cultural performances will be 'Vande Mataram'. Around 5,000 artists from across the country are expected to showcase India's classical and folk art forms, music, dance and cultural heritage.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar