The roads that led to prosperity. Pragatipath Yojna. Sw

Gujarat, my native state, in my memory as a kid, was envisaged as a dusty and rural, with lack of concrete roads and connectivity.
And,
I hated going there.
Today, I hate coming back from there.
Same is the case with great number of people, who once step their feet on the soil of Gujarat, gets so engrossed in the ever-growing development in every sphere, that one gets captivated in the scale of progress growing around.
In 2001, Shri Narendra Modi’s Govt. came into power on October 7th for the first time and since then no major sphere of development has been left untouched. The visionary C.M. foresaw the necessity of mammoth network of road connectivity within the state to bring about the social as well as financial growth. Gujarat, being industrially inclined state, the smooth connectivity of industries with the market place was of prime importance. The availability of industrial raw material and trans-corporation in large scale, attracts the mega corporate to invest here. Thus, the accessibility of far away industrial sites from the market place as well as ports and station becomes qui-essential.
The Gujarat Govt. implemented the ‘Pragatipath Yojna’ in 2004, which initiated linking Tribal belts, Industrial, Coastal and Rural roads to be connected with the main roads of the states. The prime motive behind executing this project has been broadening of high speed nine corridors, containing 3,710 km. of length. Out of which, 2,636 km. of national as well state highway has been upgraded. 1,074 km. of state highway, has been undertaken for up gradation. The entire yojna, which started in 2005 coasted about 25 billion Rs.
In phase 1,
This phase came under operation, in 2005-06. The expenditure amounted to Rs. 1615 lakhs and it developed 370 km.
In phase 2,
This came under operation in 2006-07. The expenditure amounted to Rs. 869 millions, which constituted the development of 153.90 km. in 8 districts.
The rest of the 571 km. were developed by private funding and its length was accumulated in the State Hihghway development project.
The gains...
1.This connectivity enabled the tribal belts, coastal areas, industrial townships and rural land to be efficiently connected with the farthest area of the state.
2.The ports, industries, agricultural products and the tribal belts have been presented wit accessibility and opportunity to grow. This connectivity also projects connecting of North-South, as well as West-East high speed corridors.
3. The travelling time has gone down considerably.
4. The roads of Gujarat have become an attraction to encourage people to invest in every which way in the state, bringing in more and more investment.
Thus, the ‘Makkhan Roads’ as they are known by visitors have become a proposition that Gujarat and every Gujarati can boast of. To site an example, A friend of mine, belonging to Television Industry of Mumbai, happened to travel through Gujarat by road, in his journey to Delhi, while passing through Gujarat roadways, he was so overwhelmed [well. he has travelled by road to most of the part of the country and lives in Mumbai, thus acquainted with the condition of Maharashtra roads!!!] that when Gujarat border ended, he got off the car, bow down to the butter like roads of Gujarat with folded hands and chanting Shri Modiji’s name with a big thank you in his heart..
The Gujarat roads, have carved its way in bringing about gargantuan growth of the state.
Vande Gujarat.