PM Modi Inaugurates 150 Km Key Stretch Of Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway - ndtv.com

**Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates 150‑km Stretch of Vadodara‑Mumbai Expressway**

New Delhi – On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally opened a 150‑kilometre segment of the Vadodara‑Mumbai Expressway, a crucial link in the broader 453‑kilometre corridor that aims to cut travel time between Gujarat’s commercial hub and India’s financial capital. The inauguration ceremony, held near the town of Bharuch in Gujarat, was attended by senior government officials, state ministers, and representatives of logistics firms. The newly operational stretch includes a series of flyovers, toll plazas and service areas designed to streamline the movement of goods and passengers along the western corridor. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the expressway is expected to reduce freight transit times by up to 30 percent and stimulate investment in peripheral industrial zones.

During the event, PM Modi lauded the expressway as a “game‑changer for freight transportation” and highlighted its alignment with the Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) that are reshaping India’s logistics landscape. He stressed that the project, funded under a public‑private partnership model, exemplifies the government’s commitment to modernising infrastructure without over‑reliance on borrowing. In his speech, Modi also responded to recent criticism from opposition leaders by invoking the phrase “Jooth Ki Goonj,” a rhetorical retort to Rahul Gandhi’s earlier “Chhatron Ki Goonj” rallying cry, asserting that the expressway’s tangible benefits would speak louder than partisan rhetoric.

Political analysts note that the inauguration comes at a time when the ruling party is keen to showcase concrete development achievements ahead of upcoming state elections in Gujarat and Maharashtra. While supporters hail the expressway as a catalyst for regional growth and job creation, critics argue that the project’s land‑acquisition processes and toll pricing could pose challenges for small transport operators. Nonetheless, the government has pledged to monitor traffic patterns and adjust toll rates to ensure the corridor remains accessible to a broad spectrum of users, reinforcing its broader vision of a high‑speed, freight‑focused transport network across the country.