Mumbai: In election mode, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’, the flagship scheme of Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday in Shirdi. Mr. Modi will arrive in Ahmednagar district and dedicate several projects including the new Darshan Queue Complex at Sai Baba temple in Shirdi. He will also lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth Rs 7,500 crore in sectors like health, rail, road and oil and gas.

Most of the projects, which will be dedicated by the Prime Minister, are in north Maharashtra region, which has eight Lok Sabha seats including two seats in Ahmednagar district, two seats in Jalgaon and two seats in Nashik district. Mr. Modi is likely to address the people over the development of the region during the last nine years, making a pitch for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.      

As per the itinerary of the Prime Minister, he will reach at Shirdi in Ahmednagar District; at around 1 pm. He will perform pooja and take blessings of Sai Baba at the temple. He will also inaugurate the new Darshan Queue Complex at the temple.

 “The Prime Minister will go to Nilwande dam by helicopter from Shirdi around 2.00 pm. He will perform the Jal Pujan of Nilwande Dam at 2.15 pm and dedicate a canal network of the dam to the nation,” the official said.

Mr. Modi will again come to Shirdi and address a public programme around 3.15 pm. “In this programme, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and dedicate many projects including the left bank (85km) canal network of the Nilwande Dam, which will benefit 182 villages from seven tehsils of Ahmednagar district and Nashik district, at 3.30 pm. The cost of the project is about Rs 5,177 crore,” the official said. Mr. Modi will also lay the foundation stone of various development projects.

Officials said that the Prime Minister would launch the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’ during this public programme. Under this scheme, the state government will provide Rs 6,000 per annum to the farmers of the state. The scheme is expected to benefit 85.60 lakh farmers.  

Officials said the Prime Minister would also distribute Ayushman cards and Svamitva cards to beneficiaries during the public programme.

According to the Central Railway (CR) officials, the Prime Minister will dedicate Rs 877 crore worth project including the 3rd and 4th railway lines connecting between Jalgaon and Bhusawal (24.46 km) worth Rs 640 crore and electrification of Kurduwadi-Latur Road railway section (186 Km) worth Rs 237 crore.

Officials said the Prime Minister would also lay the foundation stone of the Maternal and Child Health Wing at Ahmednagar Civil Hospital.