Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Hazira as a symbol of India’s self-reliance during his visit on Friday. He highlighted Hazira’s transformation from a manufacturing zone to an integrated ecosystem encompassing industry, energy, defense production, ports, and global trade. PM Modi emphasized that Hazira’s evolution epitomizes the essence of the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The Prime Minister underscored Hazira’s significance as a major maritime industrial center in India. He emphasized its role in enhancing domestic manufacturing capabilities. PM Modi also stressed the importance of investments in industrial infrastructure and logistics networks across Gujarat to bolster freight movement and connectivity between manufacturing hubs and ports.
PM Modi reiterated that self-reliance should not be misconstrued as isolation but as the development of domestic capabilities in strategic sectors. He criticized detractors of the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign, stating that a country reliant on others cannot achieve its full developmental potential. The Prime Minister linked industrial growth to the government’s focus on improving transport infrastructure, citing projects like the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train.
The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s efforts to expand modern infrastructure to regions historically excluded from economic networks. He mentioned projects like the Dahod-Bodeli-Vapi corridor and new road initiatives in tribal districts to reduce travel times, lower transport costs, and enhance access to education, healthcare, and job opportunities. PM Modi also emphasized that enhanced connectivity would boost tourism by facilitating access to popular destinations in South Gujarat.
PM Modi stressed the importance of concurrent progress in infrastructure development, industrial expansion, and social services for India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation. He emphasized that initiatives like Hazira’s industrial growth and improved connectivity networks aim to create opportunities in both urban and rural areas while enhancing the country’s economic resilience.
