File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Dediapada in Gujarat’s tribal-dominated Narmada district on Saturday to address a public gathering marking the birth anniversary of tribal icon Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
Ahead of the event, the Prime Minister will inspect the under-construction bullet train station in Surat at around 10am to review progress on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR). The 47-kilometre Surat-Bilimora section is in an advanced stage of completion, with civil works and track-bed laying fully completed.
Mr. Modi will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth over ₹9,700 crore in Narmada district, with a focus on tribal welfare, infrastructure, health, education and heritage, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
On Friday, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and state Tribal Development Minister Naresh Patel reviewed preparations at the Dediapada venue. Mr. Sanghavi said that before addressing the gathering, the PM will offer prayers at the temple of Pandori Mata, the clan deity of the tribal community, at Devmogra village in Sagbara taluka, 23 kilometres from Dediapada.
The PM will perform pooja and darshan at Devmogra Temple on Saturday afternoon. Thereafter, the PM will visit Dediapada and participate in a programme marking the 150th birth anniversary celebration of Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda,” the PIB release said.
“On the occasion, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various infrastructure and development projects costing more than ₹9,700 crore, and also address the gathering. The PM will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects aimed at uplifting tribal communities and improving infrastructure in rural and remote areas of the region,” the release added.
Mr. Modi will take part in the ‘grih pravesh’ of 100,000 houses built under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JAGUA), it said.
“The PM will inaugurate 42 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) worth around ₹1,900 crore dedicated to tribal students; 228 Multi-Purpose Centres to act as hubs for community-led activities; Centre of Competence in Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, and Tribal Research Institute (TRI) building in Imphal, Manipur for the preservation of tribal culture and heritage,” the release said.
In addition, Mr. Modi will flag off 250 buses for 14 tribal districts of Gujarat, lay the foundation stone for 748 kilometres of new roads to enhance connectivity in tribal areas and 14 Tribal Multi-Marketing Centres (TMMCs) under DA-JAGUA to serve as community hubs.
He will also lay the foundation stone of 50 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools, worth over ₹2,320 crore, furthering the government’s commitment to providing quality education for tribal children.
Published – November 15, 2025 04:48 am IST
