Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones for multiple development projects in Sonipur, within the Kalol and Gandhinagar North Assembly constituencies, Gujarat.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also attended the event on May 28, 2026, where both dignitaries participated in a tree plantation drive.
The projects, supported by government departments and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, included works under the Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority (GUDA), Panchayat, Roads & Buildings Department, and railway underbridge constructions.
Amit Shah praised the ongoing development in the state under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's leadership. He highlighted efforts to transform the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha Constituency into the country's most developed region, noting that development works worth Rs. 340 crore were inaugurated on the day, with projects nearing Rs. 1,200 crore undertaken in the preceding ten days.
He stated these efforts exemplify intensified cooperation between the State and Central Governments to support self-reliance in villages, further aided by CSR contributions from industrial groups.
Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of equipping every village with essential facilities, Shah asserted that the government's priority is the comprehensive development of every village. He emphasised securing quality education, healthcare, sanitation, and clean drinking water to ensure dignified lives for citizens.
Rural libraries have been established to foster reading habits among youth, with plans to integrate them into the Gandhinagar library network. By 2029, every village in Gandhinagar is targeted to have a library, garden, and well-developed recreational facilities.
Shah added that the public's support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflects recognition of his development-driven policies. He remarked that the 'Gujarat Development Model', initiated during Modi's tenure as Chief Minister, now enjoys nationwide acceptance from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Somnath to Gangasagar.
Addressing national security, Shah noted rapid progress in fencing along the Bangladesh border following recent elections in West Bengal. He stated that, unlike during the previous government, the current administration is committed to identifying and deporting foreign infiltrators, with detention centres established and voluntary exits facilitated without legal repercussions.
He announced the formation of a 'Demographic Change Commission' led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to investigate artificial demographic changes in the country and submit a report within a year, with the possibility of enacting stricter laws based on its recommendations.
Paying tribute to Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary, Shah described him as a revered patriot known to every child. He recalled that Savarkar endured two life imprisonments during the freedom movement, authored poems with his blood while imprisoned in the Cellular Jail, labelled the 1857 uprising as the 'War of Independence', and advanced social reforms including abolishing untouchability and establishing the Patit Pavan Mandir for Dalits.
Shah reiterated the commitment to making Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency the country's most developed and encouraged citizen participation in this development journey.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated that under Amit Shah's guidance, inauguration and foundation ceremonies for development works worth Rs. 340 crore took place in Gandhinagar North and Kalol talukas, reaffirming the resolve to develop the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. The foundation stone for the Sonipur Lake project was also laid to mark Veer Savarkar's birth anniversary.
Additional projects aimed at rural welfare were dedicated to the public. Ten days earlier, Amit Shah had approved development projects worth Rs. 620 crore, making the recent initiatives another major benefit for Gandhinagar district residents.
CM Patel announced a plan to plant one crore trees in the constituency to promote environmental conservation and ensure clean air and water. Focusing on digital and cultural literacy, libraries will be established in 20 villages with assistance from Toyota Kirloskar Motor, district administration, CSR funds, and donors. Three advanced reading libraries named after literary figures Kavi Narmad, Adyakavi Dalpatram, and Govardhanram Tripathi were inaugurated during the event.
The Chief Minister disclosed that Rs. 100 crore has been allotted for constructing the nation's largest and most modern 'Namo Central Library' in Gandhinagar. Over the past two years, 135 new taluka libraries have been approved throughout Gujarat. He expressed confidence that a new health sub-centre in Jalund village would provide accessible healthcare for mothers and women locally.
He stressed that the objective of the dual-level government is not only physical infrastructure development but also to improve the 'Ease of Living' in rural areas and achieve the vision of a developed India by 2047 (Viksit Bharat @2047).
Gandhinagar North MLA Rita Patel provided an overview and statistical details of various state-led development projects and welcomed the dignitaries and attendees.
The event was attended by Gandhinagar South MLA Alpesh Thakor, District Panchayat President Rajesh Patel, District Collector Ravindra Khatale, District Development Officer B. J. Patel, the Sarpanch of Sonipur village, office bearers, and numerous citizens.