Modi advocates Kandla Port be renamed Deendayal Port (Lead, changing dateline)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday suggested that the Kandla Port Trust in Gujarat should be rechristened Deen Dayal Port Trust Kandla, commemorate the birth centenary year of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, founder of Jana Sangh, predecessor of BJP.

Modi arrived this afternoon on a two-day visit to his election-bound home state, his 12th ever since he became the Prime Minister in May 2014.

Describing the 86-year-old Kandla Port as "mini India", he said: "Good ports are essential for the progress of India. Kandla has emerged as one of the finest ports in Asia and is set to scale new heights."

Modi also laid the foundation stone for six projects of Kandla Port Trust worth around Rs 993 crore. He said with a slew of developmental projects in the pipeline, Kandla port will assert itself on the global trade map and will have connection with Iran's Chabahar port once that is developed.

The Prime Minister lauded Gujarat's rich maritime tradition, while highlighting the importance of good ports for economic growth.

"Gujarat is known for its rich maritime tradition. This spirit continues even today. There is something very special about the land of Kutch and the people who live here. Good ports are essential for India's progress.

"Vital pillars of economic growth are infrastructure, efficiency, and transparency," said the Prime Minister, adding that "Kandla has emerged as one of the finest ports in Asia."

Later speaking at Bhachau town after inaugurating a pumping station for Narmada waters, Modi said: "From Keshubhai Patel to Vijay bhai (Rupani), successive Gujarat Governments stressed on water conservation and we can see results of that."

The pumping station on Kutch Branch Canal of Narmada project near Bhachau town has been constructed at a cost of Rs 148 crore. It will lift water 18 metres high into the Canal section flowing towards Anjar and Mandvi. This was Modi's second visit to Kutch after becoming Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister said people in other states always wondered how a big chunk of the state budget was being spent on water in Gujarat and it was because "thousands of tankers ran continuously across the state carrying water", and adding that it was the resolve of his and successive BJP Governments which ensured Narmada waters being accessible to the people of Kutch.

On the occasion, Modi also stressed on the importance of conserving water and said that Kutch can teach people on how to do so.

"The Tappar Dam has been enhanced and we welcome Narmada waters. We will see how water will transform lives here," he added.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the opening session of the annual meeting of the African Development Bank in Gandhinagar.

--IANS

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