National News
PM Modi unveils Rs 35,000 Cr projects in Vadodara; marks completion of Western Dedicated Freight Corridor
Vadodara, Sep 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday unveiled and dedicated a series of rail, road, housing, water supply and urban development projects worth more than Rs 35,000 crore in Vadodara, with the completion of key sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) emerging as the central feature of the event.
Addressing the gathering, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the projects would strengthen connectivity and logistics infrastructure while expanding access to housing, water supply and urban amenities across the state.
He welcomed PM Modi to Vadodara and said: “The Prime Minister had come to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for development works worth more than Rs 35,000 crore in a single day.”
The three WDFC sections dedicated to the nation cover 326 route kilometres and have been developed at a cost of more than Rs 20,700 crore.
They comprise Sanand (North)-Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale and New Saphale-Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA).
Their commissioning completes the WDFC across its full length and provides direct freight connectivity to JNPA, aimed at speeding up export-import cargo movement, reducing logistics costs and easing congestion on Mumbai’s railway network.
PM Modi also flagged off freight train services from New Sanand (North), New Makarpura, New Umbergaon and New JNPT, Mumbai.
A new passenger service between Vadodara and Tanda Road was also flagged off, while the Jobat-Tanda Road railway line, developed as part of the Chhota Udepur-Dhar project, was dedicated to the nation.
The line is intended to connect remote and tribal areas of Alirajpur with the national rail network. Patel said the Dedicated Freight Corridor would make the movement of Gujarat’s agricultural produce, industrial products and other goods faster and easier.
He also pointed to Vadodara’s role in the wider infrastructure network, referring to the Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and the manufacturing facility for C-295 military transport aircraft as developments associated with the city.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stones for three railway projects covering 329 km and costing more than Rs 9,700 crore.
These include the third and fourth lines between Vadodara and Ratlam, gauge conversion of the Miyagam Karjan-Choranda-Malsar section and doubling of the Vishwamitri-Dabhoi section.
The projects are aimed at increasing passenger and freight capacity, reducing congestion and strengthening connectivity between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Three National Highway projects costing around Rs 1,780 crore were also included in the programme.
They cover six-laning of the Kamrej-Chalthan section of NH-48, additional structures including major bridges over the Tapi and Narmada on the Vadodara-Surat section of NH-48, and grade-separated structures at Abhava, Mindhola and Khajod junctions on NH-53.
Six-lane flyovers at Kandari Chokdi and Luvara Patia were also inaugurated. Projects of the state government worth around Rs 2,600 crore were also unveiled or inaugurated.
These include Phase II of the Vadodara Urban Development Authority Ring Road, a 110 MW floating solar project at Kadana Dam and a new Vadodara Municipal Corporation office, besides housing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and a water-supply project for 11 villages in eastern Vadodara.
Patel also highlighted Gujarat’s housing and drinking-water programmes, saying more than 16.53 lakh houses had been provided to beneficiaries in urban and rural areas under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana’ and that drinking water had been extended through the ‘Nal Se Jal’ programme.
“The state had also sought to involve citizens in preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit through cleanliness and environmental activities. Sanitation workers and residents participated in cleaning roads, public places and surrounding areas, while 20 lakh saplings were distributed for plantation and other environmental activities,” he said.
Patel also referred to developments in space, railways, defence and indigenous manufacturing while describing what he called recent advances under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
He cited Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-I, India’s hydrogen-powered passenger train, the C-295 military transport aircraft, the commissioning of three indigenous naval warships and recent defence missile testing. He also said defence production had reached around Rs 1.78 lakh crore.
The Chief Minister said the state would continue to work towards the development of a ‘Viksit Gujarat’ as part of the broader goal of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’.
His remarks came as the state hosted PM Modi for a programme combining major transport infrastructure with projects focussed on housing, water supply, renewable energy and urban development.
International News
EAM Jaishankar and US counterpart Rubio discuss advancing ties, regional developments

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai on Tuesday, with discussions focusing on further advancing bilateral ties.
During the meeting, the two ministers exchanged views on regional developments. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and other officials were also present at the meeting.
“Pleased to meet US Marco Rubio in Mumbai today. We shared views on further advancement of our ties, focusing on trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people ties. Also exchanged views on regional developments,” EAM Jaishankar stated on X after the meting.
Rubio said that he and EAM Jaishankar discussed energy security and defence cooperation.
“In Mumbai, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and I discussed energy security and defense cooperation while reaffirming the importance of advancing the U.S.-India strategic partnership,” the US Secretary of State posted on X.
Earlier, EAM Jaishankar, Marco Rubio and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a meeting in Mumbai, with discussions held on regional energy security and advancing shared economic priorities.
“It was great to meet with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss regional energy security and advance our shared economic priorities,” Rubio stated on X after the meeting.
Following the meeting, Ambassador Gor also took to X and wrote: “The US, India, and UAE have real opportunities to advance cooperation on energy, trade, technology, and regional connectivity. Marco Rubio, S Jaishankar, and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Mumbai for a discussion on turning our close ties into concrete results!”
Earlier in the day, Marco Rubio arrived in Mumbai for an official visit to India. For his visit to Mumbai, Rubio is accompanied by his wife, Jeanette Rubio and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) extended a warm welcome to Rubio as he arrived in Mumbai for his second visit to India, noting that it provides an opportunity to further advance cooperation across various pillars of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
“Welcome to Mumbai, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on your second visit to India! He was received by Shri Ashish Shelar, Minister of Culture, Electronics, IT and AI, Government of Maharashtra at the airport. The visit provides an opportunity to further advance cooperation across the various pillars of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” the MEA posted on X.
After concluding his engagements in Mumbai, Rubio will travel to Gujarat’s Jamnagar for talks that will include “enhanced energy cooperation”, the US State Department said.
Crime
Model Shraddha Dubey, wanted in businessman Shiva Sharma death case, arrested in Nagpur

Model Shraddha Dubey, a key accused in the death of Lucknow-based businessman Shiva Sharma, has been arrested in Nagpur along with her sister Rashmi Dubey and driver Danish, Uttar Pradesh Police said on Tuesday.
The three accused, who had been absconding since the registration of the case, were apprehended by the Lucknow Police and the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) with the assistance of Nagpur Police on Tuesday.
A reward of Rs 50,000 each had been announced for information leading to their arrest.
Following her arrest, Shraddha Dubey has been brought to Bell Road Police Station on Wardha Road in Nagpur, where she is currently being questioned.
Officials of the Uttar Pradesh STF and Nagpur Police are present at the police station and are jointly questioning her.
According to the police, a case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at the Hazratganj Police Station on October 9 on the basis of a written complaint filed by Ranjana Sharma.
The accused are being taken through the necessary legal formalities before being brought to Lucknow for further investigation into Sharma’s death.
Meanwhile, fresh details have emerged about Dubey’s movements during her absconding period.
According to media reports, she stayed for nearly 24 hours at a hotel in Taj Nagari Phase-I in Agra.
The reports claimed that CCTV footage showed a vehicle allegedly linked to Dubey arriving at the hotel at 6:33 a.m. on October 17. Around 20 minutes later, at 6.53 a.m., a woman identified as Dubey reportedly entered the premises. The vehicle’s registration number was reported to be UP32RT8043.
During her absconding period, Dubey had released a video appealing against linking her name with influential individuals.
An earlier viral audio recording, purportedly featuring her threatening Sharma, had also surfaced, in which she was allegedly heard referring to complaining about him to a ‘sir’.
National News
CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka to approach Delhi HC seeking release

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are set to move the Delhi High Court seeking their release, challenging the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court’s order extending their judicial custody in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case.
The move comes a day after the SEM court extended the judicial custody of the two till October 21, observing that their conduct “shows no respect for law” and reflects their “habitualness in calling protest at de-notified areas”.
The two CJP leaders were sent to judicial custody till October 21 by SEM Ritu Raj at Mandir Marg police station after their earlier five-day judicial custody ended on Monday.
In its order, the SEM court said the investigating officer had placed substantial material on record, raising concerns over the likelihood of a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity.
It also recorded that the two leaders had allegedly breached the bonds furnished by them before the SEM, South-West District, on October 11 and subsequently committed a breach of peace in the present case.
The court further observed that their assurance that they would not repeat the alleged offence did not inspire confidence in view of their past conduct and the material placed on record by the investigating officer.
Das and Ranka, along with party member Ajinkya Shinde, were among 14 people detained on October 13 after they entered Jantar Mantar through private premises and obstructed police personnel from discharging their official duties.
The CJP members were protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and had raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Delhi Police had justified their continued custody, citing repeated violations of law and apprehensions that their release could lead to further violations and instigation of others.
The SEM court had also found the sureties furnished on behalf of the two leaders unfit following an inquiry, citing discrepancies in identity documents and their inability to provide basic details about the persons for whom they stood surety. It directed them to furnish fresh sureties.
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