Amit Shah Launches Development Projects Worth Rs 1,400 Crore in Ahmedabad, Sets 2028 Deadline for Drug-Free Gujarat.
Ahmedabad:
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for a series of development projects worth approximately Rs 1,400 crore in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and several other dignitaries were present at the event.
Addressing the gathering, Shah said the projects reflected the rapid pace of development taking place in Gujarat under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Of the total investment, projects worth approximately Rs 1,024 crore have been undertaken by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), while works worth around Rs 400 crore have been completed or initiated with the support of the Gujarat Government’s Roads and Buildings Department and the Government of India.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to improving living conditions for economically weaker sections, Shah said the initiative to provide permanent houses to slum dwellers was launched by Narendra Modi in 2007 and was now being carried forward by the Gujarat Government.
Referring to the rehabilitation project at Ramapir No Tekro in Ahmedabad, he said residents were being provided with well-built flats along with access to essential social infrastructure. Once fully implemented, the project would benefit more than 55,000 people by providing social security, recreational, educational and healthcare facilities within an integrated complex.
Shah alleged that despite decades of support from poor families, the opposition party, which governed the country and Gujarat for several decades, had failed to address the basic housing needs of people living in areas such as Ramapir No Tekro. He said the transformation of the area began after 1995 and gained further momentum in subsequent years.
He also urged residents to prioritise the education of their children. Referring to the inauguration of two primary schools, he said the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation had transformed primary schools in the area into smart schools. Similar initiatives were also being implemented across schools in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
Major Infrastructure Projects to Improve Connectivity
Highlighting infrastructure development, Shah said the foundation stone for a pump house had been laid in the Bopal-Ghuma area to improve rainwater drainage and prevent waterlogging. He said he had been associated with the area for nearly 30 years and had promised that an effective drainage system would be established before 2029 to ensure that residents no longer faced waterlogging problems.
He also announced the commencement of work on the four-kilometre-long ISKCON overbridge. According to Shah, the project would significantly improve connectivity between Sarkhej and Gandhinagar. Currently, the journey takes approximately two and a half hours during certain conditions, but after completion of the overbridge within three years, commuters would be able to travel much faster through a signal-free route.
The Jalasapur Water Treatment Plant was also inaugurated on the occasion.
Shah said development projects worth approximately Rs 25,000 crore had been completed in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency over the past seven years, including the latest initiatives. He reiterated his commitment to realising the vision of a “Green Gandhinagar, Developed Gandhinagar” constituency.
Drug-Free India Target Set for December 2029
A major focus of Shah’s address was the government’s campaign against drug abuse. Referring to a joint meeting held last Saturday between the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Gujarat’s Home Department, he said discussions had focused on implementing the new criminal laws, modernising the Home Department and making Gujarat drug-free.
Shah announced that the Modi Government had set December 31, 2029, as the target for achieving a ‘Drug-Free India’ after making significant progress towards the goal of a ‘Naxal-free India’. He appealed to people to take collective responsibility for making Gujarat drug-free one year earlier, by December 31, 2028.
He urged citizens to report any information regarding the sale or consumption of drugs by calling the helpline number **1033**. He assured that the identity of informants would remain confidential and strict action would be taken against those involved in drug-related activities.
The Home Minister described drug abuse as a serious threat to the physical and mental health of young people, affecting their concentration and future prospects. He also warned that drug trafficking could contribute to activities that threaten national security and promote terrorism.
Calling for active participation from society, Shah urged teachers to remain alert to behavioural changes among students. If teachers notice unusual changes in a child’s behaviour, they should arrange appropriate testing and consult the parents at the earliest.
He also appealed to parents and residents to report drug-related activities in their neighbourhoods rather than treating the issue as someone else’s responsibility.
De-addiction Centres to Support Affected Youth
Shah said de-addiction centres were being established to help young people struggling with substance abuse. He emphasised that there was no reason to feel ashamed of seeking treatment and assured that the identities of affected individuals would not be disclosed publicly.
He stressed that the fight against drug abuse could not be won by the government alone and required the active cooperation of citizens, parents, teachers and community organisations.
He further announced that a dedicated control room would become operational from December 1, with a mechanism to ensure action within three hours of receiving information about drug-related activities. A scientific monitoring mechanism had also been developed to ensure effective action against drug networks, including their masterminds and operatives.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Shah said there would be no compromise in the campaign against drug trafficking and urged every citizen to contribute towards building a drug-free society. During the programme, he also administered a pledge to local residents to actively participate in making Gujarat drug-free.
At the conclusion of the programme, Shah extended his greetings to the people of Gujarat on the occasion of Diwali and the Gujarati New Year, Bestu Varas.
