On Monday, Vadodara witnessed a vibrant roadshow featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez as they made their way to inaugurate the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd aircraft assembly facility.
The event was marked by a colorful ‘Shobha Yatra,’ with the city adorned in festive lights to warmly welcome the visiting leaders.
Local residents expressed their enthusiasm for the occasion. They highlighted their hopes for enhanced diplomatic ties between India and Spain.
Gujarat’s Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi and Union Minister CR Patil actively participated in overseeing the arrangements for the roadshow. They meticulously organized all aspects of the event.
The roadshow drew considerable public attention, reflecting the excitement surrounding the visit.
The primary focus of the day is the inauguration of Tata-Airbus’s C295 aircraft assembly plant, a landmark collaboration between Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL) and Airbus Spain.
This facility represents India’s first private sector final assembly line (FAL) for military aircraft, significantly enhancing the country’s aerospace capabilities.
Situated within TASL’s Vadodara campus, this project is part of a Rs 2,500 crore deal finalized in 2021 for the procurement of 56 C-295 military transport aircraft from Airbus.
As per the agreement, Airbus will deliver 16 aircraft directly from Spain, while TASL will manufacture the remaining 40 units in India.
This initiative aims to establish a comprehensive aircraft development ecosystem encompassing assembly, testing, certification, and maintenance over the aircraft’s lifecycle.
The project also involves major Indian defense firms such as Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL), alongside several smaller enterprises.
The C-295 aircraft will likely enhance the operational capabilities of India’s Air Force, providing a modern and reliable transport solution.
PM Modi’s Extensive Itinerary Planned In Gujarat Post-Inauguration
Following the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi has an extensive itinerary planned in Gujarat.
He will visit the historic Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara before proceeding to Amreli, where he is likely to unveil the Bharat Mata Sarovar and several infrastructure projects valued at over Rs 4,800 crores.
These initiatives however aim to benefit Amreli and adjacent districts, including Jamnagar, Morbi, and Junagadh.
The Prime Minister will likely lay the foundation stone for road projects worth Rs 2,800 crores, which will include four-laning segments of NH 151, NH 151A, and NH 51, in addition to inaugurating a new bypass in Junagadh.
Furthermore, he will initiate water supply enhancement projects worth over Rs 700 crores, including the second phase of the Pasavi Group Augmentation Water Supply Scheme in Bhavnagar district, benefiting 95 villages.
Plans for eco-tourism development at Karli Reservoir in Porbandar are also on the agenda.
Meanwhile, President Sanchez will later travel to Mumbai for discussions with industry leaders, participate in the Spain-India Forum, and explore potential collaborations with Bollywood. His visit aims to foster stronger connections between Spanish businesses and India’s entertainment sector.
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