PM to Launch Rail, Road Projects and Open Global Fintech Fest in Gujarat, Maharashtra
PM Modi will visit Vadodara and Mumbai to launch infrastructure projects, dedicate Western DFC sections, and open the Global Fintech Fest.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Gujarat and Maharashtra on Tuesday to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several infrastructure projects, and to open the seventh edition of the Global Fintech Fest (GFF).
His itinerary begins in Vadodara, where he will dedicate three sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) to the nation. These sections—Sanand (N)-Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale, and New Saphale-JNPT—span 326 route kilometers and were developed at a cost exceeding Rs 20,700 crore. The new connectivity to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) is expected to speed up the movement of export-import cargo, improve links between industrial hubs and ports, lower logistics expenses, and ease congestion on Mumbai's rail network. With these sections commissioned, the entire Dedicated Freight Corridor network will become fully operational.
The Prime Minister will also flag off freight services from New Sanand (North), New Makarpura, New Umbergaon, and New JNPT in Mumbai. Additionally, a new passenger train between Vadodara and Tanda Road will be flagged off, which is expected to benefit districts including Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, and Alirajpur.
During the visit, foundation stones will be laid for three railway projects covering 329 km with an investment of over Rs 9,700 crore. These include the Vadodara-Ratlam third and fourth lines, the Miyagam Karjan-Choranda-Malsar gauge conversion, and the Vishwamitri-Dabhoi doubling project. Foundation stones for three national highway projects, costing around Rs 1,780 crore, will also be laid. In addition, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for various Gujarat government projects valued at approximately Rs 2,600 crore.
Later in Mumbai, PM Modi will inaugurate the Global Fintech Fest 2026, scheduled from September 8 to 11. The event, held annually since 2020, serves as a platform for policymakers, regulators, central banks, financial institutions, and technology companies to discuss the future of finance. This year's theme is "Potential to Impact: Agentic AI, Tokenisation, Quantum - Trusted, Connected, Global Systems for Inclusive Finance." The discussions will center on how emerging technologies like Agentic AI and quantum computing can deliver trusted and inclusive outcomes for economies and citizens, building on India's leadership in digital payments.