Rajkot: Chief minister Bhupendra Patel visited the city on Saturday to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for a slew of development projects worth Rs 751 crore. Emphasizing the state govt’s commitment to “Ease of Living”, the chief minister said well-planned development projects are never rejected and are cleared swiftly to ensure timely public benefit.Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of providing their own house to every poor and middle-class family, Patel inaugurated 1,010 newly built EWS-II houses in the Railnagar area. Built at a cost of Rs 119.05 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the housing units are equipped with facilities such as green energy provisions, common rooftop solar systems, auto-door elevators, CCTV surveillance and comprehensive fire safety systems. The CMalso laid the foundation stone for 40 future-ready infrastructure projects worth Rs 543.89 crore. Of this, Rs 368 crore has been allocated for roads and public buildings, while Rs 173 crore will be used to expand water supply networks in newly developed areas. In addition, Patel inaugurated key water and drainage facilities, including a 23 MLD sewage treatment plant in Raiyadhar built at a cost of Rs 33.30 crore, a 15 MLD sewage treatment plant in Ghanteshwar costing Rs 30.85 crore and a 139-lakh-litre ground service reservoir. After receiving a warm welcome at Rajkot International Airport from senior city officials, the CM proceeded to the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Auditorium to attend the ‘Dada no Het no Honkaro’ programme. The event was organized by the Federation of Housing Board Association to felicitate Patel for his prompt and sensitive resolution of long-pending water and electricity connection issues at the Anandnagar Housing Board quarters. Addressing the gathering, Patel praised Prime Minister Modi’s leadership for shielding Indian citizens from the effects of global wars and unrest. He reminded the audience that the Prime Minister’s journey as a public representative began in Rajkot and assured citizens that the govt stands with the common man in difficult times, keeping the welfare of marginalized sections at the core of every scheme.
