Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 20 presided over the “Samudra se Samriddhi” event in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for a cluster of development projects with a combined investment of more than ₹34,200 crore, spanning maritime infrastructure, LNG facilities, renewable energy and related connectivity works. The programme, announced by the Prime Minister’s Office, is intended to strengthen India’s coastal economy while accelerating the transition to cleaner energy sources.
A significant slice of the investment is directed to port, cruise and maritime heritage ambitions. Projects in the maritime sector alone total about ₹7,870 crore and include high-profile initiatives such as the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal and upgrades to Bhavnagar and other coastal assets designed to boost passenger cruise capacity, ship-handling and coastal tourism. The government says these moves will expand maritime logistics, stimulate coastal economies and create ancillary employment opportunities.
Energy and clean-technology deployments also form a major part of the announcement. Modi flagged several renewable and hybrid-energy projects — notably a 475 MW PM-KUSUM solar feeder for farmers, the 45 MW Badeli Solar PV project, and the complete solarisation of Dhordo village in Kutch — aiming to leverage Gujarat’s solar potential and deliver distributed benefits to rural households and agrarian consumers. The slate also includes a 600 MW “Green Shoe” initiative and other grid-linked solar schemes intended to feed industrial and agricultural demand.
On the hydrocarbon and LNG front, the Prime Minister inaugurated the HPLNG Regasification Terminal at Chhara Port and greenlit pipeline and terminal modernization works, including projects at Vadinar and IOCL’s Acrylics & Oxo Alcohol complex — steps described as bolstering India’s downstream and energy-security capabilities while creating synergies between port infrastructure and energy supply chains.
Beyond project launches, Modi’s itinerary included an aerial survey of the Dholera region and a review of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, signalling continued emphasis on coastal urbanisation, cultural tourism and integrated logistics planning. Officials frame the whole package as a strategic push to convert coastal potential into manufacturing, services and clean-energy growth, positioning Gujarat as a national hub for maritime and renewable-led investment.
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