Gandhidham sources have stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said good ports are essential for India's progress as he laid the foundation stone for half a dozen projects worth Rs 993 crore related to development of Kandla Port. Noting that Kandla has emerged as a key port in Asia, PM Modi said once Iran's Chabahar Port is developed with Indian assistance, the maritime facility here will establish itself firmly on the global trade map.
Moreover PM Modi also suggested that the Kandla Port Trust (KPT) be named after BJP-RSS ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay as a tribute to him in his birth centenary year. He was addressing a gathering in Kutch district after laying the foundation stone for a slew of developmental projects of KPT.
PM Modi said sound infrastructure and efficiency are vital pillars of economic
growth, and if the country has to progress, it must have good ports. He said
"Economists are surprised at the rapid growth of Kandla Port. Those
working at the port have realized that if they upgrade it in terms of
infrastructure and efficiency, it can make greater contribution to the
country's growth."
Sources have made a statement that PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Gujarat, his home state where assembly polls are due by the year-end, in which the BJP has high stakes in retaining power. This was Mr. Modi's third visit to Gujarat this year. On April 7, he had visited Botad to inaugurate the phase II of the state government's ambitious Sauni irrigation project. On March 8, he had visited Gandhinagar to address women sarpanches on the International Women's Day.
