Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, on Monday, 9 May, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and reportedly discussed about the state's several important development projects, which have been pending with various union ministries.
Media reports say that Patel sought the intervention of Modi on the issue of Sardar Sarovar Project, where installation of sluice gates is pending. The issue of increasing the height of the main dam of the irrigation project is also said to have figured in the duo's meeting. Patel also urged Modi to take quick action for several long-pending issues concerning the state.
The chief minister reportedly also requested Modi for an increase in the royalty of crude oil to the state and also sought the Union government's assistance in starting phase-I of Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project.
The other demands she put forth are:
· Developing Sabarmati station as second railway terminal
· extension of Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway up to Mumbai
· declaration of the State's 1,600-km-long Coastal Highway as National Highway and
· Centre's aid of second instalment for Dandi Heritage Marg and expansion of Sabarmati Ashram.
Requisitions pertaining to these projects have been pending with the Centre.
When Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, the State government had complained that the United Pregressive Alliance (UPA) government was not taking quick decisions on projects related to the state, including the issue of granting permission for medical colleges in the state.
Modi's Gujarat government in the past had alleged that Central government was discriminating against Gujarat after derecognizing 150 medical seats and keeping permission to start two new medical colleges in the state a few years ago pending.
Besides Modi, the Gujarat Chief Minister also met the Vice- President Hamid Ansari and the newly elected Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Patel was accompanied by the state Chief Secretary Varesh Sinha and other key officials.
After Modi became the country's prime minister last May, Patel, who was the State's Revenue Minister, replaced him as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. She was the senior most minister in the state's council of ministers and Patel's succession to the CM's post was unanimous, as nobody contested against her. In fact, Patel was number two in the state's cabinet after Modi and is said to be very loyal to him.
The Prime Minister also met chief ministers of Northeastern states during the day. Modi-led NDA government has laid special emphasis on development of Northeastern states.
Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalthanhawla and Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang met Modi and putforth their states' priority issues and development projects.
