PM announces India's first Railway University in Vadodara

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi addressing at the inauguration of the integrated terminal building, at Harni airport, in Vadodara, Gujarat 

Ahmedabad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the integrated terminal building of Vadodara's Harni Airport .

Speaking at the event, Modi said that he was "happy" that the Kochi and Vadodara Airports have joined the green movement. He also spoke about the new aviation policy which he said looked at the growth of the aviation sector.

Modi mentioned that Vadodara will get India's first Railway University. He is also scheduled to attend a programme to distribute artificial limbs and other implements to more than 8000 'Divyangs' (disabled persons) in the city.

This is Modi's first visit to Vadodara after becoming PM in May 2014. In last Lok Sabha elections, Modi got elected from both Vadodara and Varanasi seats, but he retained latter.

"After arriving in Vadodara afternoon, the PM will first inaugurate the newly-built international terminal at the city airport and then he will attend Divyang camp at Navlakhi ground," an official of Gujarat Information Department said earlier.

The state-of-the-art terminal, built at the cost of Rs 160 crore, is spread over 18,120 sq mt and can handle 700 passengers (domestic plus international) per hour. It will have 18 check-in counters. The airport is located in Harni area on the outskirts of Vadodara.

After the function, Modi will head to Navlakhi ground, where artificial limbs, tri-cycles and other assistive devices will be distributed to over 8000 'Divyangs'.

The event has been jointly organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Kanpur-based Artificial Limb Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), and Vadodara district administration, stated a government release.

This will be Modi's fourth visit in last three months to his home state, where Assembly elections are due next year.

On his 66th birthday on 17 September, Modi had inaugurated various irrigation and drinking water projects in the tribal district of Dahod. He had attended a Divyang camp at Navsari in south Gujarat.

In August, he had visited Gujarat twice — once to condole death of Pramukh Swami Maharaj at Botad district and then to inaugurate the ambitious Sauni Irrigation Scheme in Jamnagar district. Harni is only the second "green building" airport in country.