Prime Minister to release the 24th PM-KISAN instalment worth around ₹19,000 crore, dedicate India’s Bovine Breeding and Research Centre to the nation and launch major infrastructure initiatives in Banaskantha
NEW DELHI, (Economy India): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat on October 30 and 31 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth more than ₹14,000 crore in Banaskantha, release the 24th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme amounting to around ₹19,000 crore and participate in the 151st birth anniversary celebrations of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The two-day visit will cover major initiatives in agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy infrastructure, urban transport, road connectivity, railway services, child development and tourism.
The Prime Minister will also dedicate the India Bovine Breeding and Research Centre (BRC) in Banaskantha to the nation, lay the foundation stone for two Bio-CNG plants of Banas Dairy and initiate the expansion of Ahmedabad Metro’s Phase 2 network.
In Ekta Nagar, Modi will inaugurate Bharat Parv 2026, participate in the Ekta Prakash Parv celebrations and attend the National Unity Day programme on October 31.
₹14,000 Crore Development Projects in Banaskantha
On October 30, the Prime Minister will visit the Embryo Transfer Technology-In Vitro Fertilisation (ET-IVF) laboratory and the India Bovine Breeding and Research Centre cattle farm in Banaskantha.
At around 10:30 am, he will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth more than ₹14,000 crore.
The projects cover dairy and livestock infrastructure, metro connectivity, road development, child-friendly Anganwadi centres, agricultural storage and processing facilities, and railway services.
Modi will also release the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), transferring approximately ₹19,000 crore to farmers across the country.
India Bovine Breeding and Research Centre to Strengthen Cattle Genetics
One of the major highlights of the visit will be the dedication of the India Bovine Breeding and Research Centre at Bhildi in Banaskantha.
Spread across 127 acres, the facility has been developed as a modern centre of excellence for bovine breeding, genetic improvement and advanced reproductive technologies.
According to the government, the centre is expected to accelerate breed improvement by 10 to 20 times through advanced breeding techniques.
The facility will be the country’s first dedicated centre for the Kankrej cattle breed, an important indigenous breed associated with the region.
The centre is expected to strengthen scientific breeding practices and support improvements in livestock productivity.
Two Bio-CNG Plants of Banas Dairy
The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for two Bio-CNG plants of Banas Dairy at Tharad and Radhanpur.
The plants will have cattle dung processing capacities of:
- Tharad plant: 75 metric tonnes per day.
- Radhanpur plant: 100 metric tonnes per day.
The projects are aimed at processing cattle dung and strengthening the use of organic waste for the production of cleaner energy.
Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2 Expansion
The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for two extensions of Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2, covering the airport and GIFT City corridors.
The proposed extensions include:
| Metro extension | Proposed length | Stations |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 2A: Airport extension | More than 6 km | 5 |
| Phase 2B: GIFT City extension | More than 3.3 km | 3 |
Phase 2A will connect Koteshwar Road to the airport, while Phase 2B will extend connectivity from GIFT City to Shahpur.
The extensions are expected to improve urban transport connectivity and provide additional metro access to key economic and transport destinations.
Ahmedabad–Mehsana Highway to Be Expanded to Eight Lanes
The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for upgrading and strengthening the Ahmedabad–Mehsana road, also known as State Highway-41.
The project, estimated to cost around ₹2,600 crore, will expand the road from four lanes to eight lanes.
The improvement is expected to make travel between Ahmedabad and North Gujarat faster, safer and more convenient.
More Than 4,000 Child-Friendly Anganwadi Centres
The visit will also include a major initiative to strengthen early childhood care and development infrastructure in Gujarat.
Modi will lay the foundation stone for 4,030 new child-friendly Anganwadi centres and inaugurate 361 completed centres.
The initiative involves an investment of ₹800 crore and is expected to benefit more than four lakh people.
The programme is intended to improve facilities and services for children and families through upgraded Anganwadi infrastructure.
521 Agricultural Infrastructure Projects Worth ₹4,950 Crore
The Prime Minister will dedicate 521 projects completed under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to the nation.
These projects have a combined investment of approximately ₹4,950 crore and include:
- Cold storage facilities and cold-chain infrastructure.
- Warehouses and silos.
- Polyhouses and greenhouses.
- Integrated primary and secondary processing facilities.
- Primary processing centres.
The projects are intended to strengthen agricultural storage, post-harvest management and processing capacity.
Modi will also inaugurate the expansion of a potato processing plant at Sander and launch an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) for ultra-high-temperature (UHT) products at Palanpur.
PM-KISAN’s 24th Instalment: Around ₹19,000 Crore to Farmers
A major component of the Gujarat visit will be the release of the 24th instalment of PM-KISAN.
The Prime Minister will transfer approximately ₹19,000 crore under the scheme, which provides financial assistance to eligible farmers across the country.
The release is intended to continue direct financial support to farming households.
Modi will also initiate ground-level activities under 12 approved horticulture clusters covering approximately 1.46 lakh hectares.
These clusters are expected to benefit more than 1.3 lakh farmers. Two clusters in North Gujarat will focus on potato cultivation.
Two New Railway Services to Be Flagged Off
The Prime Minister will flag off two railway services to strengthen rail connectivity:
- Ahmedabad (Sabarmati)–Varanasi Express.
- Mehsana–Bechraji–Sabarmati MEMU service.
The new services are expected to improve passenger connectivity across the routes and support regional mobility.
Bharat Parv 2026 to Promote India’s Cultural Diversity
After completing the Banaskantha programme, the Prime Minister will travel to Ekta Nagar in Kevadia.
At around 5 pm on October 30, he will inaugurate Bharat Parv 2026, a cultural festival designed to showcase India’s heritage and national unity.
The festival will provide states and Union Territories with a platform to present their traditional art forms, folk performances, regional cuisines, handicrafts and tourism attractions.
Conceived around the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’, the event aims to celebrate India’s cultural diversity and encourage tourism in Ekta Nagar and surrounding areas.
Bharat Parv 2026 will continue until November 15.
Ekta Prakash Parv to Feature 1.5 Crore LED Lights
The Prime Minister will attend the Ekta Prakash Parv celebrations at around 7:45 pm on October 30, followed by the Narmada Aarti at around 8:15 pm.
The light festival will showcase India’s unity, cultural heritage, diversity and development through themed lighting installations and visual displays.
Two major attractions will be featured:
530-metre Valley of Flowers lighting display: Based on the theme ‘From Ancient India to Modern India’, the installation will showcase India’s national identity, civilisation, women empowerment, security forces, technology, yoga and a creative world for children.
180-metre Glow Tunnel: Based on the theme ‘Unity in Diversity of India’, the tunnel will offer visitors a visual experience of the cultures, architecture, folk dances, handicrafts and lifestyles of India’s four regions.
The displays will use more than 1.5 crore LED lights and feature artworks created by artists from different parts of the country.
More Than ₹400 Crore Projects in Ekta Nagar
On October 31, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth more than ₹400 crore in Ekta Nagar.
The projects are aimed at improving civic infrastructure, tourism facilities, environmental attractions and visitor amenities.
Projects scheduled for inauguration include:
- A sewage and water treatment plant.
- Facade lighting installations.
- Upgradation of Narmada Ghat.
- An IRCTC hotel.
- Rainforest, Ekta and Eco Trails.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for several projects, including the development of the Gora-Bhandara road, an integrated zero-waste smart solid waste management project, Khalwani eco-tourism development and integrated development of the Cactus and Butterfly Gardens.
National Unity Day on October 31: Focus on Sardar Patel’s 151st Birth Anniversary
The Prime Minister will participate in the National Unity Day celebrations on October 31, marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
He will pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity at around 9 am before attending the development project programme at Ekta Nagar.
The National Unity Day parade will showcase the discipline, professionalism, courage and dedication of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), state police forces and central police organisations.
This year’s parade will place special emphasis on the achievements of security forces in tackling Left-Wing Extremism and the transformation of previously affected areas towards peace, security and development.
Special Theatrical Presentation on a Naxal-Free India
A major feature of this year’s celebrations will be a special theatrical presentation on a Naxal-free India, organised by the National School of Drama.
The performance will involve approximately 2,000 artists from 126 districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism.
Through the theatrical presentation, artists will depict the challenges faced by communities in these regions and their journey towards peace, security and development.
‘Vande Mataram’ to Be the Central Theme
‘Vande Mataram’ will serve as the overarching theme of this year’s National Unity Day celebrations.
Tableaux and cultural performances will highlight patriotism, national pride and collective participation. The tableaux will showcase people’s aspirations, the cultural richness of states and Union Territories, and India’s development journey.
A grand cultural presentation involving around 5,000 artists from across the country will celebrate India’s classical and folk traditions, music, dance and artistic heritage.
The two-day programme will combine major infrastructure announcements, agricultural support, transport connectivity and cultural events, with Banaskantha and Ekta Nagar at the centre of the Prime Minister’s Gujarat visit.
(Economy India)
