On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off a two-day, four-city tour to Gujarat, announcing a number of projects and emphasising how his Bharatiya Janata Party has transformed the state into the nation's "door to wealth" during the 21 years it has been in power since 2001. The visit occurs before the state's upcoming assembly elections at the end of the year.
The two visits will see the beginning of work on the new Ahmedabad railway station as well as the launch of projects totaling $29,000 crore in Surat, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, and Ambaji. They will also see the laying of the cornerstone for the world's first CNG terminal.
The Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City initiative, which seeks to make Surat, where more than 80% of the world's raw diamonds are treated, the largest diamond trading centre in the world, was officially launched by Modi on the first day of the visit. At Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, the largest cricket stadium in the world, he also opened the 36th National Games. Gujarat is hosting the National Games for the first time this year.