Ahead of PM Modi’s Vadodara visit, ‘Namo for Viksit Bharat’ padayatra draws citizens
Vadodara, Sep 7 (IANS) A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Gujarat’s Vadodara, the city witnessed a ‘Namo for Viksit Bharat @ Vadodara’ padayatra on Monday evening, with citizens, civic officials, youth and National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets taking part in a programme organised to mark his visit.
The padayatra, led by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, began at the Faculty of Technology in Dandia Bazaar and passed through Kirti Stambh before concluding at Sursagar Lake, where a cultural programme was held.
The event comes ahead of PM Modi’s scheduled visit to Vadodara on Tuesday, when he is set to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for development projects worth more than Rs 35,000 crore.
The Prime Minister’s programme has also seen a digital registration system introduced for public participation, with all available seats booked within an hour and more than 42,000 people subsequently placed on a waiting list.
Speaking during the padayatra, Deputy CM Sanghavi said the response from Vadodara residents had been strong, noting that demand for participation was three times the available capacity.
“For the first time, online ticketing was introduced, and all seats were booked within an hour. To accommodate the large number of people, the administration has also set up special ‘Fan Zones’ so that everyone can watch the programme comfortably,” he added.
The Deputy Chief Minister thanked residents for their participation and said their support had helped take forward the resolve associated with the ‘Viksit Bharat’ campaign.
The padayatra was attended by Legislative Assembly Chief Whip Balakrishna Shukla; Minister of State Manisha Vakil; Vadodara MP Hemang Joshi; Vadodara Municipal Corporation Commissioner Arun Mahesh Babu and senior officials, besides youth, NCC cadets and other prominent citizens.
The evening programme at Sursagar Lake followed a cycle rally organised on Sunday as part of the events ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit.
Singer Kailash Kher performed at the cultural programme.
During the gathering, ‘Swachhata Doots’ who have made notable contributions to cleanliness efforts in Vadodara were also felicitated.
PM Modi’s Vadodara programme on Tuesday is centred on major rail, road and infrastructure projects.
He is scheduled to dedicate three sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor spanning 326 km and valued at more than Rs 20,700 crore.
He will also inaugurate or lay the foundation stones for railway and highway projects, along with state government projects estimated at around Rs 2,600 crore.
The public programme, titled ‘NaMo for Viksit Bharat’, is scheduled to be held at the Maharaja Sayajirao University Pavilion in Vadodara on September 8.
–IANS
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