Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Vadhvan port, promising economic growth for Maharashtra and benefits for the fishing community

MUMBAI: At the event to virtually lay the foundation stone of the Vadhvan port in Palghar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the stage with the slogan of ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ and expressed his deep reverence for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He said the first thing he had done when he was chosen by the BJP as the PM candidate in 2013 was go to Raigad and pray before the samadhi of Shivaji Maharaj.
Modi flayed the opposition, saying there were people who kept abusing and insulting state icon Veer Savarkar but never apologised for hurting the feelings of nationalists with their statements. “Our values are different. For us, nothing is bigger than our deity,” he said.
After apologising for collapse of the 35-ft statue of Shivaji at Rajkot in Sindhudurg that he had been unveiled on Navy Day on Dec 4, Modi spoke several sentences in Marathi, taking the crowd by surprise. Modi said a “developed Maharashtra“, an economic powerhouse, was an essential part of his govt’s resolve for a developed India.

“Over the past 10 years, we have taken continuous major decisions for Maharashtra’s progress. To ensure that the state and the entire country reap benefits of Maharashtra’s capacities, the foundation stone for Vadhvan port has been laid today,” he said.
Against the backdrop of fishing communities holding protests against the port along the west coast over the fear that it would hit their livelihood, Modi highlighted the fishing community’s contribution to nation-building. He said the Vadhvan port, with an investment of over Rs 76,000 crore, will provide employment to the locals. He said the world will be watching the “new Bharat” thanks to the port, which he said will see thousands of containers and vessels and will change “India’s image, with Maharashtra benefiting the most”.
Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones of 218 fishery projects worth Rs 1,560 crore. He launched the Rs 360 crore National Roll Out of Vessel Communication and Support system, under which a lakh transponders will be installed on mechanised and motorised fishing vessels in 13 coastal states and UTs. He handed over transponders to three Palghar fishermen to ensure their safety at sea.
Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis thanked Modi for giving the Vadhvan port national status as that had helped the govt win cases against the port in all the courts.
Dy CM Ajit Pawar assured the people gathered at the event that there would be 12 lakh employment opportunities for locals, with a lakh in the first phase.