The Prime Minister addressed a gathering in Vadodara, Gujarat at the “Namo for Viksit Bharat” programme on September 8, 2026, where he highlighted recent infrastructure projects and development initiatives aimed at making India a developed nation.
What was announced
The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth several thousand crore rupees. He announced two major initiatives for youth: a free online coaching programme for competitive exam preparation delivered by India’s best teachers, and a large-scale campaign to equip young people with artificial intelligence skills across all sectors of the economy.
He highlighted the completion of over 2,800 kilometres of the Dedicated Freight Corridor project, which has transformed India’s logistics and transportation system. More than 430 freight trains now run daily on the eastern and western dedicated freight corridors. New train services were launched connecting Vadodara, Chhota Udaipur, and Alirajpur.
The PM noted that India has manufactured approximately 50,000 modern railway coaches since 2014, and added around 2.5 lakh wagons to Indian railways. He also mentioned that 55 lakh families across India have installed solar panels on their roofs under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, with 11 lakh of these families from Gujarat.
The rail budget for the current year exceeded 2.9 lakh crore rupees, several times higher than the budget twelve years earlier.
What this means for you
Freight transport has become significantly faster and cheaper. Goods that once took 30 hours by truck now travel the same distance by rail in 10-12 hours. Farmers can now get perishable produce like flowers, vegetables and fruits to distant markets more quickly, reducing wastage and increasing their income.
Students from poorer backgrounds will get free coaching for competitive exams from quality teachers, reducing the financial burden on middle-class families. Young people across all fields can now access training in artificial intelligence skills to create solutions in agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and other sectors, opening new employment opportunities.