New Delhi, Sept 20 (UNI) Slamming previous Congress-led governments for making India import-dependent, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today underlined the urgent need for an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India), saying, “We cannot leave the future of 140 crore citizens to others… The remedy for all difficulties is an Aatmanirbhar Bharat…, whether it’s chip or ship”.
Addressing a gathering in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, after inaugurating multiple projects, Modi said, “We cannot base the country’s development on dependence on others. We cannot put the future of coming generations at stake…”
Even after six to seven decades, India has not achieved the success it deserved. The Congress government kept the country entangled in license-quota raj and isolated it from the global market. Its policies harmed the youth and the nation, he said.
Emphasizing India’s growing global camaraderie, Modi said the country has no major enemies but identified foreign dependence as the greatest threat. “The greater the dependence on foreign nations, the greater the failure of the country. For peace, stability, and prosperity, the world’s most populous nation must become self-reliant,” he added.
The Prime Minister highlighted the country’s ambitious target to become developed by 2047, underscoring the need for domestic manufacturing, “Whether it’s chips or ships, we must make them in India.” He announced upcoming next-generation reforms in the maritime sector, including initiatives like One Nation, One Document, and One Nation, One Port Process.
“To establish India as the largest maritime power, three major projects worth over Rs 70,000 crore are underway. A historic decision has been taken to recognize large ships as infrastructure,” he said.
Modi lamented the decline of India’s shipbuilding industry, noting that 50 years ago, nearly 40% of Indian trade was carried on Indian ships, which has now dropped to 5%. “Today, India depends on foreign ships for 95% of its trade, leading to huge economic losses,” he said, calling this a major hurdle in the path to Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Highlighting India’s progress, he noted how the country is achieving goals ahead of schedule, such as in the solar energy sector. As part of a major boost to the maritime sector, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects worth over Rs 34,200 crore.
The key highlight was the inauguration of the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock and the laying of the foundation stone for a new container terminal at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata.
Additional maritime developments include a new cargo berth and container facilities at Paradip Port (Odisha), the Tuna Tekra Multi-Cargo Terminal in Gujarat, and modernisation works at Kamarajar Port (Tamil Nadu), Chennai Port, Car Nicobar Island, Deendayal Port (Kandla), and inland waterway facilities in Patna and Varanasi.
In Gujarat alone, the Prime Minister unveiled a portfolio of projects worth Rs 26,354 crore, spanning renewable energy, port infrastructure, roadways, healthcare, and urban transport. Major inaugurations included the HPLNG Regasification Terminal at Chhara Port, the Acrylics and Oxo Alcohol Project at Gujarat IOCL Refinery, the 600 MW Green Shoe Initiative, and the 475 MW PM-KUSUM solar feeder for farmers. The 45 MW Badeli Solar PV Project and full solarisation of Dhordo village were also inaugurated.
In healthcare and urban infrastructure, foundation stones were laid for expansions at Sir T. General Hospital in Bhavnagar and Guru Govind Singh Government Hospital in Jamnagar. The Prime Minister also launched the four-laning of 70 kilometres of national highways to strengthen regional connectivity and trade logistics.
