Narendra Modi wil inaugurate as many

Narendra Modi wil inaugurate as many as six projects of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on 29 August

With civic elections just round the corner, the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party ( BJP) is on a ribbon cutting spree, opening populist projects by the dozens. Once poll notification is issued, the code of conduct would forbid any such inaugurations or announcements. Elections are due in October this year.

Sample this: On Sunday, chief minister Narendra Modi in span of 85 minutes will be criss-crossing from eastern parts to western parts of the city snipping ribbons and unveiling plaques for as many as six projects of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation alone.

Modi will begin by inaugurating Adinathnagar water distribution station and Bag-e-Firdaus recreation centre at 5.30 pm, then rush to Raipur to inaugurate Pandit Shyamji Krishna Verma sports, cultural and commercial complex at 6 pm. After that inauguration of revamped Jayshankar Sundari hall at 6.15 pm will be followed by commencement of heritage building project and new Sardar Patel Bhavan at municipal headquarters in Danapith.

At 6.55 pm, Modi will be inaugurating Ravishankar Raval cultural auditorium and gallery. Finally, the last event will be opening of new western zone office of AMC named after late Rajmata Vijaya Raje Sindhia.

Same is the case with mayor Kanaji Thakore, who will inaugurate water distribution station in Arbudanagar, Odhav; mural painting of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Dhal ni Pol, and new civic centre at Dharnidhar crossing.

However, this has left opposition members of Congress fuming. Leader of Congress Surendra Baxi said, “In last one month, AMC authorities have inaugurated more than 100 civic projects, many of them yet to be completed. This is a political gimmick and also a complete wastage of public money.” He added, “Lakhs of rupees are splurged in these activities for which no one is made accountable.”

The opposition members allege that in the standing committee meeting of AMC on Friday, the ruling party members put forth a Rs 4 crore road project on the priority list even before making a detailed estimate of it. Baxi said, “If estimate of the project is not approved how can AMC authorities pass the tender?”

Modi will also address a public meeting on Sunday evening at Bodakdev.