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. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2026 in Mumbai on September 8, bringing together policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, technology companies, startups and investors to discuss the next phase of global financial innovation.

The seventh edition of the Global Fintech Fest will be held from September 8 to 11, 2026, at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). According to the Prime Minister's Office programme released by the Press Information Bureau, Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the event at around 5:45 pm on September 8 and address the gathering. 

AI, Tokenisation and Quantum Technologies in Focus

The central theme of GFF 2026 is “Potential to Impact: Agentic AI, Tokenisation, Quantum - Trusted, Connected, Global Systems for Inclusive Finance.” The organisers have structured the theme around three technologies that are increasingly influencing financial services: agentic artificial intelligence, tokenisation and quantum technologies. 

The event's theme focuses on moving beyond technological experimentation and translating emerging technologies into practical applications across financial services. The organisers say the convergence of these technologies could contribute to more intelligent, programmable and secure financial systems.

What Agentic AI Means for Finance

One of the three major pillars of GFF 2026 is Agentic AI, which refers to AI systems capable of handling complex tasks and coordinating financial workflows with greater autonomy.

The official GFF programme highlights potential applications including personalised financial services, real-time decision-making, fraud prevention, regulatory oversight and automated workflows, while stressing the importance of governance and human oversight.

Tokenisation and the Future of Digital Assets

Tokenisation is another key focus of this year's conference. The concept involves representing assets as digital units that can be programmed, divided and transferred through digital infrastructure.

According to the GFF organisers, tokenisation could have implications for payments, capital markets, asset ownership and settlement by making financial and other assets more programmable and potentially improving access to global markets. 

Quantum Technology and Financial Security

The third pillar, Quantum, places emphasis on the future of computing, cybersecurity and financial infrastructure. The organisers have highlighted areas such as quantum-safe cryptography, risk optimisation and the long-term resilience of financial systems.

The focus reflects growing attention within the financial sector to technologies that could influence both computational capabilities and the security of digital financial infrastructure.

Global Fintech Leaders to Converge in Mumbai

GFF 2026 describes itself as a global platform bringing together policymakers, central bankers, regulators, financial institutions, technology companies, startups and investors to discuss the future of finance. 

The event's programme also covers areas including digital transformation, sustainable climate finance, investment strategies, operational resilience, risk and compliance, data governance, rural finance and changing customer behaviour.

Four-Day Event from September 8 to 11

The Global Fintech Fest will continue through September 11 at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai. Alongside discussions and sessions, the event includes startup investment pitches, innovation programmes, product demonstrations and networking opportunities. 

With emerging technologies increasingly shaping payments, lending, investments and financial security, GFF 2026 is set to place the question of how innovation can translate into broader and more inclusive financial impact at the centre of discussions in Mumbai.