Vadodara, Sep 7 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday inaugurate and dedicate infrastructure projects worth over Rs 35,000 crore in Vadodara, highlighted by the commissioning of the final key sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), completing the freight network along its entire route. PM Modi will reach Vadodara around noon on September 8 and dedicate three WDFC sections covering 326 route kilometres and developed at a cost of more than Rs 20,700 crore. The sections are Sanand (North)-Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale and New Saphale-Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA).The commissioning will provide direct freight connectivity to JNPA, facilitating faster movement of export-import cargo between industrial centres and the port. The dedicated infrastructure is also expected to reduce logistics costs, cut transit times and ease congestion on Mumbai's conventional railway network.The WDFC runs from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to JNPA in Maharashtra and forms a major freight link between northern industrial centres and the western coast.During the programme, the Prime Minister will flag off freight train services from New Sanand (North), New Makarpura, New Umbergaon and New JNPT. He will also flag off a new passenger train service between Vadodara and Tanda Road, benefiting passengers from Vadodara, Chhota Udepur and Alirajpur districts.

PM Modi will dedicate the Jobat-Tanda Road new railway line, developed under the Chhota Udepur-Dhar project, to the nation. The line will connect remote and tribal areas of Alirajpur with the national railway network.The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stones for three railway projects spanning 329 km and costing more than Rs 9,700 crore. These comprise the third and fourth lines between Vadodara and Ratlam, gauge conversion between Miyagam Karjan, Choranda and Malsar, and doubling of the Vishwamitri-Dabhoi section.The projects are intended to increase passenger and freight capacity, reduce congestion and improve rail connectivity between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.On the road infrastructure front, foundation stones will be laid for three National Highway projects costing around Rs 1,780 crore.These include 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.Two six-lane flyovers at Kandari Chokdi and Luvara Patia will also be inaugurated to improve road safety at identified black spots on NH-48. Projects worth around Rs 2,600 crore by the state government will also be covered during the visit.

These include the foundation stone for 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.Housing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and a water-supply project covering 11 villages in eastern Vadodara are among those to be inaugurated. In the evening,Later, PM Modi will travel to Mumbai, where he is scheduled to inaugurate the Global Fintech Fest 2026 at around 5:45 p.m. and address the gathering.

/IANS