Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has emphasized on building a Viksit Bharat amid global challenges. Addressing the first-ever Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Mehsana, Gujarat today, the Minister highlighted Gujarat’s remarkable industrial progress. He said, over the past 11 years, the state has achieved massive growth in the semiconductor and electronics sectors, along with a major expansion of its railway network. He said 2,764 kilometres of new railway lines have been constructed in Gujarat during this period.

Mr Vaishnaw also announced that India’s first bullet train is expected to become operational by August 2027. He said that the Centre is working closely with the Gujarat administration to support major industrial initiatives. He revealed that 30 Japanese chemical and gas companies will soon establish their units in Gujarat to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem.

The Minister also invited industry leaders to invest in the rapidly expanding electronic components industry in the state.

Earlier, in his inaugural address, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that the state has attracted 68.9 billion US dollars worth of investments over the past 24 years through Vibrant Gujarat investment summits. He said Gujarat today contributes 18 percent of country’s industrial output and 27 percent of the country’s exports.

The inaugural event also witnessed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Gujarat government and various industry players, aimed at boosting industrial growth and employment opportunities in North Gujarat. The conference will focus on sectors including dairy and food processing, agriculture and agro-based industries, automobile components, engineering, renewable energy, and tourism.