Ahmedabad, Apr 30 (PTI) On the eve of Gujarat’s 66th Foundation Day, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday said the state’s development model has drawn global attention.
Extending greetings to people on ‘Gujarat Gaurav Diwas’, to be celebrated on May 1, he attributed the state’s growth to collective efforts and visionary leadership.
“The whole world is impressed by Gujarat’s development model and is attracted to Gujarat today,” he said, adding the day was an occasion to acknowledge the contributions of great leaders and the people of the state.
He recalled the blessings and guidance of figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Shyamji Krishna Varma, and others, whose inspiration shaped Gujarat’s journey.
Referring to the state’s formation on May 1, 1960, Patel said doubts were raised about how a region with desert, coastline and hills would progress.
“But everyone can see the clear difference between Gujarat’s four decades of development from 1960 to 2000 and the uninterrupted development journey of two and a half decades after 2001,” he said while crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for laying the foundation of “development politics” in the state.
Gujarat has emerged as a role model for the country under Modi’s leadership, he said.
“People have continued to repose faith in Modi’s leadership. Gujarat has made major strides in electricity, water, roads, health, education and social sectors. Through ‘Jyotigram Yojana’, 24-hour continuous three-phase electricity is being provided to villages,” he said.
Power generation capacity has risen from 8,750 MW to around 53,000 MW, with Gujarat being the only state with an integrated gas grid, water grid and electricity grid, the CM said.
Initiatives such as the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit, launched in 2003 when Modi was CM, have helped position the state as a “global gateway to the future” and contributed to low unemployment, while district-level strengths are being promoted through regional conferences aimed at taking local products to global markets, he added.
“Gujarat is also focusing on renewable energy and green growth, including solar, wind and green hydrogen. Our renewable energy capacity has become 15 percent of the country’s total capacity. More than three lakh houses have been covered under rooftop solar schemes,” Patel pointed out.
Asserting that the state was moving beyond traditional industries by promoting high-tech sectors, he said two semiconductor plants have become operational and two more are to be built.
Sanand and Dholera are going to become hubs of the semiconductor industry, while an AI Centre of Excellence has been set up at GIFT City, the CM said.
On urban and regional development, he said the government has increased the urban development budget by 40 per cent and prepared economic master plans for six regions with support from NITI Aayog.
Gujarat has drawn up a roadmap for becoming a developed state by 2047 with the vision of ‘Earning Well, Living Well’, the CM said.
He stressed on environment-friendly growth and referred to initiatives such as ‘Catch the Rain’ and tree plantation drives under ‘Ek Ped Maan Ke Naam’.
The chief minister also highlighted plans to boost sports infrastructure as Gujarat prepares to host the Commonwealth Games, saying the state aims to emerge as a sports hub.
Referring to India’s target of becoming a developed nation by 2047, Patel said, “Gujarat would play a key role during the ‘Amrit Kaal’ and aims to become a model state by 2035 when it marks 75 years of its formation. We have only one resolve, to provide the poor, farmers, youth, women and the deprived sections with the benefits of welfare schemes and bring them into the mainstream of development.” Calling for collective efforts, Patel urged people to dedicate themselves to building a developed Gujarat that contributes to a developed India by 2047.
“On Gujarat Gaurav Diwas, let us all resolve to dedicate ourselves to a developed Gujarat,” Patel said. PTI PJT PD BNM
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