Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat and Maharashtra on September 8, where he is scheduled to inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stones for development projects worth more than ₹35,000 crore in Vadodara before travelling to Mumbai for the Global Fintech Fest 2026.

The Prime Minister will reach Vadodara around noon and address a public gathering after launching the projects. Later in the day, at around 5:45 pm, he will inaugurate the Global Fintech Fest at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex. 

Three Western DFC Sections to Be Dedicated

A major highlight of the Vadodara programme will be the dedication of three sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) to the nation.

The three sections — New Sanand (North)-New Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale and New Saphale-New JNPT — cover a combined 326 route kilometres and have been developed at a cost of more than ₹20,700 crore.

Their commissioning will establish direct DFC connectivity towards the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), aimed at facilitating faster movement of export-import cargo between industrial centres and the port. The government says the infrastructure will also help reduce logistics costs and ease congestion on Mumbai's conventional railway network. 

DFC Network to Become Fully Operational

With these sections becoming operational, the country's Dedicated Freight Corridor network will be fully operational across its entire length, according to the government.

The dedicated freight network is designed to separate a significant portion of goods traffic from passenger railway routes. The government expects the expanded infrastructure to reduce transit times, improve freight movement and strengthen multimodal logistics connectivity.

Freight Trains to Be Flagged Off

PM Modi will also flag off freight train services from New Sanand (North), New Makarpura, New Umbergaon and New JNPT in Mumbai.

In addition, a new passenger train service between Vadodara and Tanda Road will be launched. The service is expected to benefit passengers in Vadodara as well as the Chhota Udepur and Alirajpur districts.

The Prime Minister will also dedicate the Jobat-Tanda Road new rail line, developed as part of the Chhota Udepur-Dhar rail project. The line will connect remote and tribal areas of Alirajpur with the national railway network. 

New Railway Projects Worth Over ₹9,700 Crore

The Vadodara programme will also include the foundation stone for three railway projects covering 329 kilometres at an estimated cost of more than ₹9,700 crore.

These include the third and fourth lines between Vadodara and Ratlam, gauge conversion between Miyagam Karjan-Choranda-Malsar, and doubling of the Vishwamitri-Dabhoi section.

The projects are aimed at increasing passenger and freight capacity, easing congestion and strengthening railway connectivity between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Highway Projects and Gujarat Development Works

The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for three National Highway projects worth around ₹1,780 crore.

The projects include six-laning of the Kamrej-Chalthan stretch of NH-48, additional structures including major bridges over the Tapi and Narmada on the Vadodara-Surat section of NH-48, and grade-separated structures at Abhava, Mindhola and Khajod junctions on NH-53. Two six-lane flyovers at Kandari Chokdi and Luvara Patia will also be inaugurated. 

Several Gujarat government projects worth around ₹2,600 crore are also part of the programme, including the Vadodara Urban Development Authority Ring Road Phase II and a 110 MW floating solar project at Kadana Dam. 

PM Modi to Travel to Mumbai for GFF 2026

After the Vadodara programme, Modi will travel to Mumbai to inaugurate the Global Fintech Fest 2026. The four-day event will be held from September 8 to 11 and will focus on emerging financial technologies, including Agentic AI, tokenisation and quantum technology.

The September 8 visit therefore combines major railway, freight, highway and state-level infrastructure initiatives in Gujarat with a major international fintech event in Maharashtra. 

First-of-its-kind public participation model

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s September 8 programme in Vadodara has drawn strong public interest, with all available seats reportedly being booked within an hour of the opening of registrations under a new digital participation initiative.

The registration-based system was introduced to facilitate public participation in the Prime Minister’s programme while moving away from a conventional invitation-based approach. Free registrations were made available through the BookMyShow platform, with the Vadodara Municipal Corporation overseeing the process. Reports said the response was rapid, with the available seating capacity filled within about an hour. 

Citizens register through BookMyShow

The use of a mainstream digital ticketing platform for a government programme has been described as a first-of-its-kind initiative. Instead of relying entirely on physical invitations or organisational mobilisation, citizens were given an opportunity to register online for entry.

The initiative also provided an organised mechanism to manage attendance at the venue. The event is scheduled to take place at the Maharaja Sayajirao University Pavilion in Vadodara on September 8, with participation expected from citizens, students and young professionals. (BookMyShow)

Focus on young people and Gen Z

The Vadodara programme is expected to place considerable emphasis on young people. Preparations in the city have included programmes and outreach activities aimed at students and residents ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit.

Local reports said more than 6,000 students and young startup founders are expected to participate in the main programme. The interaction is being positioned around technology, self-reliance and the role of young Indians in nation-building, with live streaming also planned to allow wider participation beyond the venue. (Indian Express - Gujarati)

PM Modi’s Gujarat visit on September 8

The Vadodara event is part of Prime Minister Modi’s Gujarat visit on September 8, during which he is scheduled to launch and dedicate a range of infrastructure projects.

A major component of the visit is the operationalisation of three sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, covering about 326 route kilometres. The projects are intended to improve freight movement and strengthen direct connectivity with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority. 

The wider programme also includes rail and road projects involving thousands of crores of rupees. The developments are expected to improve logistics connectivity and support movement of goods across western India.

A different model of public participation

The rapid booking response has placed attention on the way public participation is being organised for major political and government events. The digital registration model provides organisers with a structured way to manage attendance while allowing interested citizens to seek access independently.

At the same time, the initiative's significance will depend on how effectively such systems can be used for future large public programmes. For the Vadodara event, however, the initial response was clear: the available seats were filled within roughly an hour of registrations opening. 

A woman auto-rickshaw driver in Gujarat's Vadodara is winning praise online for working late into the night while supporting her family and trying to build financial independence.

A video featuring the woman has gone viral on social media after Instagram user Sanyam Garg reportedly met her and her husband while returning home at around 3 am. What he learned about their lives and the woman's work left him impressed.

The woman reportedly drives her auto late into the night and also offers free rides to people travelling to hospitals during emergencies between 10 pm and 5 am. Details about the service have not been independently verified, but a message displayed on her auto has drawn considerable attention online.

Husband Taught Her to Drive

According to Sanyam Garg's video, the woman's husband used to drive an auto himself before teaching his wife how to operate one.

The idea was not simply to increase the family's income but also to help her become financially independent.

After learning to drive, the woman gradually started working as an auto driver. The couple also has two children, meaning they have to manage both family responsibilities and their work.

Her story has particularly resonated with social media users because of the support she reportedly received from her husband.

Works Late Into the Night

Garg said he encountered the woman at around 3 am, when she was still working.

Despite the late hour, she appeared focused on her work and continued driving passengers to their destinations.

The message displayed on her auto added another dimension to the story. It says that people requiring an auto to reach a hospital between 10 pm and 5 am, particularly in an emergency, can request a free ride.

While the social media post does not provide independently verified details about how many people have used the service or the exact conditions attached to it, the message has attracted significant attention.

Claims She Inspired 50 Women

Garg also claimed in his video that the woman has encouraged around 50 other women to take up auto driving and become financially independent.

There is no independent confirmation of this figure, but if accurate, it would add another significant aspect to her story.

Beyond earning for herself, the woman is reportedly encouraging other women to consider work and financial independence.

Husband Supports Her Independence

The role of the woman's husband has also become a major talking point online.

According to the social media post, he taught her how to drive and supported her decision to start working.

The story has prompted many users to praise the couple for supporting each other rather than allowing social expectations to dictate their choices.

Several commenters described them as a "power couple", while others said family support can play an important role in helping women become financially independent.

Working in Vadodara at Night

Garg also spoke about the environment in Vadodara and said the city's atmosphere gives women confidence to work late.

However, working at night can carry safety risks, and precautions remain important regardless of the city or circumstances.

For the woman featured in the video, continuing to work until the early hours appears to be part of her effort to support her family and build a life on her own terms.

Social Media Users Praise Couple

After the video gained traction online, users praised both the woman and her husband.

Comments included messages such as "This is so inspiring", while several others said they were proud of the couple.

Many users praised the woman's determination and also highlighted the husband's decision to teach and support her.

Some commenters described them as an example for society and wished them success in their efforts.

Dream of Owning a Car

According to Garg, the woman enjoys driving and hopes to eventually buy her own car.

For now, she continues to drive an auto, contribute to her family's income and work towards becoming more financially independent.

What has made the story stand out is its simplicity. There is no large business or extraordinary financial success behind it. Instead, it is the story of a woman working at 3 am, a husband supporting his wife's independence and a message offering help to people who may need an emergency ride to a hospital.

As the video continues to circulate online, the woman's story has become a reminder that financial independence can begin with something as simple as learning a skill, taking up work and having the confidence to keep going.

The seat fell vacant after the death of eight-time BJP MLA Yogesh Patel on June 2, following a prolonged illness. Patel had represented the constituency since its creation post-delimitation, first winning from Raopura before moving to Manjalpur, and had held the seat for 36 years — one of the longest legislative careers in Vadodara. He retained Manjalpur in the 2022 election by a margin of more than one lakh votes, making the constituency a clear BJP stronghold heading into the bypoll.

The BJP moved quickly, naming Satish Patel as its candidate on July 9 — the first major party to declare a nominee for the contest. Party leaders have projected him as an experienced organisation man with a background in the cooperative sector and municipal corporation work, positioning him as someone who can carry forward Yogesh Patel's legacy. State BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma expressed confidence the party would retain the seat, describing a decisive win for Patel as a fitting tribute to his predecessor and framing it as validation of the state and central government's development record.

Congress announced its own candidate three days later, naming Bhikha Rabari, a former state minister and Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president with more than four decades in the party. Rabari previously served as Minister of State for Industries and has been recognised for social welfare work among weaker sections; his candidature was approved directly by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Beyond the two main contenders, five other candidates filed nominations: Paresh Brahmbhatt and Ratnasagar Rajrajeshwar Dhulabhai, both also fielded by the BJP; Dharmesh Patel from Congress; Dinesh Vyas of the Right to Recall Party; and independent candidate Rathod Paresh Vinodkumar. Nominations were scrutinised on July 14, with candidates able to withdraw until July 16 — after which the final list of contenders will be locked in ahead of campaigning.

Polling is scheduled for July 30, with counting on August 3. As the only assembly bypoll currently underway in Gujarat, Manjalpur is being watched as an early organisational test for both parties, even though the seat's long BJP history makes it, on paper, a race the party starts as the clear favourite to retain.