On March 30, 2025, Prime Minister (PM)of India, Narendra Modi was on a one-day official visit to Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. During his visit, he inaugurated various development projects in Nagpur, Maharashtra and paid homage to prominent leaders. In Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, PM Modi laid the foundation stones and dedicated projects worth over Rs 33,700 crore to the nation.
Highlights of Visit to Maharashtra:
PM Modi Laid Foundation Stone for Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, an extension of the Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute & Research Centre in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The upcoming facility will feature a 250-bed hospital, 14 outpatient departments (OPDs), and 14 modular operation theatres to provide world-class yet affordable eye care.
Note: It was established in 2014 in memory of Shri Madhavrao Sadashivrao Golwalkar (second Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS, a Hindutva organization), this super-specialty eye care institute is known for its advanced ophthalmic services.
PM Modi Pays Homage at Smruti Mandir in Nagpur
PM Modi visited Smruti Mandir in Nagpur where he paid tribute to Dr. Keshav Hedgewar and Madhavrao Golwalkar, key figures in the foundation of the RSS. Golwalkar, popularly known as Guruji, was instrumental in shaping the organization’s vision.
PM Modi Inaugurates Loitering Munition Testing Range and UAV Runway in Nagpur
i.PM Modi inaugurated a state-of-the-art Loitering Munition Testing Range and an exclusive runway for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited in Nagpur.
- The newly unveiled testing infrastructure includes a 1.27-kilometer (km)-long runway dedicated to the development of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones for the Indian Armed Forces (IAF).
- Additionally, a 1,080-acre test range has been set up to advance loitering munition technology, supporting next-generation weapons research and development.
ii.During his visit, PM Modi also reviewed various indigenously developed defence systems, including the Pinaka Rocket System, air bombs, mines, multi-mode grenades, military explosives, and anti-tank guided missiles.
iii.A key highlight of the showcase was the Nagastra series of Loiter Munitions, featuring a diverse operational range from 15 km to over 100 km with payload capacities between 1 kilogram (kg) and 10 kg.
PM Modi Pays Tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur
PM Modi visited Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur to pay homage to Dr. Bhimrao Ramji (B.R.) Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, where he entered the stupa to offer his respects to Ambedkar’s ‘asthi’ (ashes) preserved there, in the presence of Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
Highlights of visit to Chhattisgarh:
PM Modi Inaugurates Development Projects Worth Over Rs 33,700 Crore in Chhattisgarh, Flags Off MEMU Train
i.PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various development projects worth over Rs 33,700 crore in Chhattisgarh at an event in Mohbhattha village, Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh.
ii.During the program, PM Modi flagged off the MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) train service on the Abhanpur-Raipur route via Mandir Hasaud, dedicated three railway projects (111 kilometre km) worth Rs 2,690 crore announced 100% electrification of the railway network in Chhattisgarh.
- Additionally, he handed over symbolic keys to three beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), reinforcing.
Key Infrastructure Projects:
i.PM Modi laid the foundation stone laying for NTPC’s (National Thermal Power Corporation) Sipat Super Thermal Power Project Stage-III (1×800 Megawatt MW) in Bilaspur. With an investment exceeding Rs 9,790 crore, this advanced pit-head power project will utilize Ultra-Supercritical Technology, ensuring higher efficiency in power generation.
ii.He initiated the First Super Critical Thermal Power Project (2×660 MW) of Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Limited (CSPGCL) worth Rs 15,800 crore. Additionally, he dedicated three Power Transmission projects of Power Grid Corporation of India under the Western Region Expansion Scheme (WRES) worth Rs 560 crore.
iii.In line with India’s net-zero emissions goal, he laid the foundation stone for the City Gas Distribution (CGD) project of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in Korea, Surajpur, Balrampur, and Surguja districtsof Chhattisgarh.
iv.This project includes a 200 km high-pressure pipeline, 800 km Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE) pipeline, and multiple Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) outlets worth Rs 1,285 crore. He also laid the foundation stone for the Visakhapatnam-Raipur Pipeline (VRPL) Project of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), a 540 km multiproduct (Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene) pipeline with a capacity of 3 Million Metric Tonne Per Annum (MMTPA), worth RS 2,210 crore.
vi.He dedicated key road projects worth Rs 1,270 crore, and laid the foundation stone for the Kondagaon-Narayanpur section of NH-130D (47.5 km) to improve connectivity to tribal and industrial regions.
vii.In the education sector, he dedicated 130 PM SHRI (Prime Minister Schools for Rising India) Schools across 29 districts and launched the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) in Raipur, Chhattisgarh for monitoring education schemes
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister (CM)- Devendra Fadnavis
Governor- C. P. Radhakrishnan
Capital- Mumbai
About Chhattisgarh:
Chief Minister (CM)- Vishnu Deo Sai
Governor- Ramen Deka
Capital- Raipur
