Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Modi touts freight corridor completion, criticises UPA-era project delays
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to a large gathering in Vadodara about new transport and development projects.
He said a major railway freight corridor across western India is now complete.
He blamed the earlier UPA government for taking too long to move the project forward.
Modi said freight trains and trucks can now travel faster on important routes.
He also joked about people who worry that faster trains could reduce truck-driver jobs.
He promised free online classes for students preparing for competitive exams.
Modi said young people should learn about artificial intelligence because it will affect many kinds of work.
He also discussed electricity, semiconductors, data centres and clean energy.
Projects worth more than Rs 35,200 crore were inaugurated, advanced or flagged off during his visit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the UPA era for administrative inertia and delays in the Dedicated Freight Corridor project.
Modi said the 2,800-kilometre freight corridor is now complete after sections in western India were inaugurated.
More than 430 freight trains reportedly run daily, with faster travel times for trains and trucks.
Modi announced free online coaching for competitive-exam students and urged young people to prepare for artificial intelligence.
During his Vadodara visit, he inaugurated, launched or flagged off projects worth more than Rs 35,200 crore.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, government officials, Gujarat leaders, students and other attendees.
- What
- Modi inaugurated and advanced railway and other development projects while criticising delays during the UPA era and discussing youth skills and artificial intelligence.
- When
- Tuesday.
- Where
- Vadodara, Gujarat, with projects involving the western part of India.
- Why
- The projects aim to improve freight movement and other infrastructure, while Modi said youth preparation for competitive exams and artificial intelligence is important for India’s future.
Modi government’s position
Concerns referenced in the speech
Freight corridor delays
Modi government’s position
Modi said the UPA-era government allowed files to remain stuck, hanging or lost, and that no kilometre of the project was completed in its first seven or eight years.
Concerns referenced in the speech
The speech presented the earlier approach as administrative inertia, while supporters of the previous system could point to the project’s conception in 2004 and the creation of an executing company in 2006.
Impact on truck drivers
Modi government’s position
Modi highlighted faster trains and said the corridor would improve freight movement and efficiency.
Concerns referenced in the speech
He referred to critics who question whether greater use of freight trains could threaten truck drivers’ livelihoods.
Artificial intelligence and jobs
Modi government’s position
Modi said AI skills could create opportunities in agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and robotics, and urged young people to prepare for the technology.
Concerns referenced in the speech
The speech acknowledged that AI-driven changes are creating concerns about how future work and livelihoods may be affected.
- Freight corridor length
- 2,800 kilometres
- Daily freight traffic
- More than 430 freight trains run daily on the two corridors.
- Project spending announced
- More than Rs 35,200 crore in projects were inaugurated, launched or flagged off.
- Railway spending
- More than Rs 30,766 crore of the projects were under the Railways.
- Train travel time
- A 100-kilometre journey that previously took six and a half hours can now take less than half that time.
- Truck travel time
- A journey that previously took about 30 hours can now take 10 to 12 hours.
- Student support
- The government will provide free online coaching for competitive-exam preparation.